Program Overview, Terms and Conditions
Learn more about the COOC Seal Certification Program’s history and background.
Review eligibility and rights of usage of the COOC Intellectual Property (i.e. the COOC Seal).
Members are expected to familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions prior to submitting to the Seal Certification Program and must uphold those terms the duration of their membership with the COOC.
Standards, Requirements and Recommendations
Use the buttons below to review each of the attachments containing COOC Standards, requirements and recommendations regarding the Seal Certification Program. These documents are reviewed annually, ahead of that year’s Seal Certification Program, to ensure compliance with state, federal and international regulations.
Members are expected to familiarize themselves with the Standards, Requirements and Recommendations prior to submitting to the Seal Certification Program and must uphold those terms the duration of their membership with the COOC.
- Attachment A: COOC Intellectual Property Subject to License
- The COOC Logo and Seal
- Attachment B: Standards and Requirements
- Parameters an oil must achieve to be designated as being of extra virgin grade
- Labeling standards
- Attachment C: Lot Size Recommendations and Requirements
- Includes examples outlining the benefits of submitting numerous lots vs submitting a field blend
- Attachment D: Recommendations and Requirements for Other Oils and Products Containing Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Including Olio Nuovo, Flavored Olive Oils and Mixed Oil Blends
Procedure for Producers
If you are a member that has purchased an olive oil to package under your own label, see Procedure for Retailers and Private Label Entities.
You must be an active member with the California Olive Oil Council to have your oil(s) certified.
Steps to complete for the certification process:
- Submit samples for a chemical analysis using a COOC Approved Lab
- Submit Seal Certification materials to the COOC
- Complete the Olive Oil Submission Form
- Agree to the terms of the Certification Mark Authority and License to Use Agreement
- Make payment
- Submit samples for the COOC Taste Panel to conduct an organoleptic (sensory) evaluation
Procedure for Retailers and Private Label Entities
If you are a member that has purchased an olive oil to package under your own label, follow the instructions below. Note: if you have purchased an olive oil from a producer who has not been certified by the COOC, then you must submit using the Procedure for Producers.
You must be an active member with the California Olive Oil Council to have your oil(s) certified.
Steps to complete for the certification process:
- Submit Seal Certification materials to the COOC
- Complete the Olive Oil Register Form.
- Request from the producer, a copy of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Certificate, provided to them by the COOC upon completion of their certification. You will be required to submit a copy of the certificate as proof of sale and assurance the lot you are submitting to be registered with the COOC, is of extra virgin grade.
- If the producer is not COOC certified, we will not accept alternative materials and you must submit the oil using the Procedure for Producers.
- Agree to the terms of the Certification Mark Authority and License to Use Agreement.
- Make payment for Authorization to Use the COOC Seal on the registered lots.
- Complete the Olive Oil Register Form.
Chemical Analysis Requirements
The oil has an acidity level, in terms of oleic free fatty acid, of not more than 0.5% and a peroxide value of 15 meq O2/kg or less. Ultra Violet Absorbency for extra virgin olive oil as displayed in Table 1: COOC Standards & Requirements for Certification
| All Producers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensory | Median of Defects | 0 |
| Median of Fruity | > 0 | |
| Free Acidity (FFA) (%m/m) | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Peroxide Value (PV) (meq O2/kg oil) | ≤ 15 | |
| UV Absorbency (UV) | K232 | ≤ 2.4 |
| K270 | ≤ 0.22 | |
| Delta K | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Producers > 5,000 gallons | ||
| Insoluble Impurities (INI) (%m/m) | ≤ 0.1 | |
| DAGs (% | ≥ 35 | |
| PPP (%) | ≤ 17 | |
Those producers whose volume exceeds 5,000 gallons per year are required to submit additional chemical data including DAGs, PPPs, Moisture and Insoluble Impurities.
Reference the list of recommended labs to use for the chemical analysis. The COOC policy dictates that no more than 60 days may elapse from the date of the chemistry testing to the submission of the oil for the COOC Seal Certification Program.
Retailers and Private Label Entities that have purchased COOC certified oil to package under their own label, are not required to submit samples for a chemical analysis. As long as the oil has been certified by the COOC, you can be assured that the oil has already been vetted through the Certification Program and was found to meet these requirement.
Oil Submission Form
Only Producers will complete the Oil Submission Form.
The Oil Submission Form provides the COOC with background information and traceability of each oil.
Oil Register Form
Only Retailers and Private Label Entities who have purchased a COOC certified extra virgin olive oil to package under their own label will complete the Oil Register Form.
The Oil Register Form provides the COOC with background information and traceability of each oil.
Certification Mark Authority and License to Use Agreement
The Certification Mark Authority and License to Use Agreement (CLA) regulates the use of the COOC seal. It is important you read and understand this document prior to signing. The Certification License Agreement will be signed by members each time they submit forms for certification or for use of the Seal.
Starting with the 2021 Harvest, submissions to the Seal Certification Program will be 100% online. Members will digitally sign the CLA with the submission of their online forms.
Payment
- Micro-producers (annual production less than 100 gallons): The cost is $100 for your first oil and $80 per oil thereafter.
- Producers (annual production greater than 100 gallons): The cost is $225 for your first oil and $150 for each oil thereafter.
- See Attachment A for Seals fee structure
- An $8.00 flat rate shipping fee will be applied to each order of Seal stickers.
Payment should be complete using the online submission form. You may send a check or call the office to provide a credit card at 888-718-9830. We accept Amex, Visa or Mastercard.
Samples for the Taste Panel
Two samples of each oil submission should be sent to the COOC office for organoleptic evaluation. Samples should consist of a minimum of 250 mL or larger and be clearly labeled with the producer name and the oil designation. Final product labels are not required to be fixed to the submission bottles but, COOC staff should be able to clearly read and distinguish the producer and oil submission when breaking down a shipment.
The Taste Panel ascertains defects as well as desirable attributes of extra virgin olive oils. The tasters have undertaken a training and accreditation program. The panel meets at least twice each month for the dual purpose of seal certification as well as for continual sensory training. Oils are assigned to certification sessions once submissions are complete and in the order they are received. Per international regulations, each oil must be assessed by a minimum of 8 panelists, and each panelist may not assess more than 12 oils per session.
We recommend you send all items together in one package. We will not process any oils through the Seal Certification Program unless all submission materials are complete and payment is in order.
Please send all submission materials to:
California Olive Oil Council
attn: Seal Certification Program
801 Camelia Street, Suite D
Berkeley, CA 94710
Note: We recommend sending tracking information to max@cooc.com to ensure shipments for certification are accounted for.
Results and Use of the Seal
After your oil has been evaluated, you will be notified via email with your results. The results contain valuable information regarding your oil’s levels of fruitiness, bitterness, pungency, its balance and robustness as well as positive descriptors. This normally takes 2 to 3 weeks but, may be delayed during times of high volume. The results are confidential. If your oil is passed and meets the requirements of the chemical analysis, you will be eligible to use the COOC Seal. If your oil is not found to be of extra virgin grade, the COOC staff is here to help and discuss potential causes and solutions.
Once your oil has earned the COOC Seal of Certification, you may purchase rolls of the COOC Seal stickers. Contact the COOC office to place an order. You may also use the digital artwork of the dated Seal in your label’s artwork free of charge.
Submit questions through the Contact Us form, located in the footer of the website.
Seal Certification Submissions and Forms
Use the below buttons to submit your oils for Seal Certification, order Seal stickers or digital artwork, or update your list of extra virgin olive oils on the COOC website.
Note that the 2020 Harvest Seal Certification Programs is closed. New and renewing members will be eligible for the 2021 Harvest Seal Certification starting November 1, 2021.