How to import argan oil into the EU

Importing argan oil from Morocco is straightforward if you prepare four things well: customs classification, proof of origin, shipping documents and end-use obligations. This guide summarises each step for an importer established in the EU.

1. Customs classification

Bulk argan oil is classified under heading 1515.90 of the Harmonized System: other fixed vegetable oils and their fractions, refined or not, but not chemically modified. It is the same heading for virgin, deodorised and food-grade oil.

In the EU the full code has 8 digits (Combined Nomenclature) and your customs agent determines it according to the exact presentation. The classification may change if the product is already prepared as a cosmetic for retail sale, for example a finished serum. If in doubt, you can ask your customs office for a Binding Tariff Information (BTI).

2. Tariff and preferential origin

To find out the tariff from Morocco, the European Commission offers the Access2Markets My Trade Assistant tool: you enter the country of origin, the destination country and the product code.

Products originating in Morocco can benefit from the preferential treatment of the EU-Morocco Association Agreement. Morocco has been part of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (PEM) since 2012. To benefit you need a valid proof of origin:

• EUR.1 movement certificate, issued by Moroccan customs, or
• Origin declaration on the invoice, made by the exporter.

Since 1 January 2026, in trade between the EU and Morocco the proof of origin must state which rules have been applied, «REVISED RULES» or «TRANSITIONAL RULES». If the statement is missing or incorrect, customs may deny the preference.

3. Shipping documents

• Commercial invoice and packing list.
• Proof of origin: EUR.1 or origin declaration.
• Transport document: CMR by road or bill of lading by sea.
• Certificate of analysis (COA) of the batch and data sheet.
• Safety data sheet (MSDS), which carriers and warehouses usually ask for.

4. If you use it as an ingredient

If you are a laboratory or a manufacturer that incorporates the oil into its formulas, the oil is a raw material. You will need the supplier's specification and the COA of each batch for your quality control and for the dossier of the cosmetics you make.

As for the REACH regulation, substances that occur in nature and are not chemically modified are usually exempt from registration, as is the case with pressed vegetable oils. Confirm this for your case with your regulatory adviser, especially if you import large volumes.

5. If you sell it as a finished cosmetic

If you import oil already packed to sell to the public as a cosmetic, or you pack it under your brand in the EU, Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 applies:

• Each cosmetic needs a responsible person established in the EU. If the manufacturer is outside the EU and does not designate anyone else, the responsible person is the importer.
• Before placing it on the market, the responsible person must have the safety report and the product information file, and notify it on the CPNP portal.
• The label must include, among other details, the name and address of the responsible person, the country of origin of the imported product, the list of ingredients in INCI and the batch number.

More detail in our guide to natural cosmetics private label, step by step.

6. If it is food-grade oil

Food-grade argan oil is a food. Whoever places it on the market in the EU is a food business operator and must comply with food safety and consumer labelling rules (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011). Check with your health authority whether your product is subject to specific controls at the border.

Checklist

• CN code confirmed with the customs agent.
• Tariff checked on Access2Markets.
• Proof of origin with the correct rules statement.
• Batch COA, data sheet and MSDS received before shipping.
• Responsible person and dossier ready, if you sell a finished cosmetic.

Would you like us to prepare a trial shipment? Request a quote and we will tell you the documents, lead times and Incoterm.

Sources

• Access2Markets: how to check the tariff of a product
• European Commission: EU-Morocco trade relations
• European Commission (DG TAXUD): guide to the revised PEM rules of origin
• Fendler Salva: indication of rules on proofs of origin from 2026
• Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 on cosmetic products

Indicative information for professionals, reviewed on the date shown. Regulations change: confirm the requirements for your case with your regulatory or customs adviser.