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<pre>Nico,

I'm a small importer dealing with Itlaian producers. I won't claim to be an
expert, but here are a couple things I've learned:

-Make sure the producers have all the necessary export documents ready
before the oil is picked up.

-The oil must be labled in English to meet FDA regs (the words "olive oil,"
product of Italy, name and address of producer, content volume in US units,
eg, fluid oz not liters, and the name and address of the
importer/distributor)...this applies to every barrel, can, or bottle.

-If you're importing bottled oil, it's worth it to have the shipper in
Italy build wooden shipping crates to pack the cardboard boxes of bottles
into.

-Be sure to check out the the new rules for organic labeling if any of your
oils are organic. The certifying agency stuff isn't really in place for
Italy this year, and one of my producers tells me it would cost almost 1000
Euro to have his oil, already certified by Italy and the EU, certified for
the US

-For shipments of less than 1000 kg (about 1 ton, which is a lot of oil),
air freight is about the same cost as ocean

-Shipping costs are unit-based, but entry fees and other costs from your
broker are generally fixed, so it's more cost-effective to bring all of the
oil in one load

>
>I have been trying to reach the US FDA to find out how to
>get an FDA "Production Facility Number", as someone told me
>the producers would need this, however I just can't get a
>hold of a live person there. Can you help me understand
>whether they need this and how I could get it?

I've never heard of this, don't have one, and have never been asked for it.

>We will use a customs broker and freight forwarder to
>handle customs. Also on that note, can anyone recommend
>their favorite shipping company for an Italy to West Coast
>US delivery?


I'm in Portland, Oregon, and use OIA Global, but mostly because the customs
broker I use is the brother of a friend. Still, they give me good service
and the price is comparable to the first broker I used.

I arrange for the purchase of the oil directly with the producer, wire the
payment, email my broker, and wait for notice that my shipment is waiting
at a bonded warehouse out by the airport. I drive my old pickup out and
pick it up. OIA takes VISA, so I can earn travel miles.

Jim Dixon
Real Good Food
www.realgoodfood.com
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