COMMITMENT TO COMPLIANCE

CTC SCHEME

The SA Olive Commitment to Compliance (CTC) Scheme is a voluntary integrity-based scheme managed by SA Olive for locally produced Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO).

To ensure that the consumer chooses the best quality locally produced oils, SA Olive has introduced a seal that will appear on olive oils of participating SA Olive members.

For the consumer, the CTC Seal means:

  • The producer confirms that the content is 100% South African.
  • The year of harvest is prominently displayed, indicating the freshness of the oil.
  • The producer is committed to the standards set in the SA Olive Codes of Practice, which are based on international quality standards.
  • Honest and transparent labelling – if the label states that the content is Extra Virgin, the producer verifies that the content is in fact Extra Virgin and not Virgin, or a Refined Olive Oil.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

CTC SCHEME

1

Read the Manual

View the latest CTC Procedural Manual, explaining the criteria and application process.

2

Complete the Application Form

Download the CTC Application Form.

Add the following to the form:

  • Copies of the actual labels (refer to CTC manual and labelling law for details)
  • Certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory (Free Fatty Acids and Peroxide Values)
  • A minimum of two samples of 250ml each (the second sample is opened if a retasting is required)

3

Check the Tasting Dates

The panel usually meets every second Monday. Review the CTC dates 2024.

4

Deliver the form, documents and samples

Deliver to SA Olive by 10:00 on the Friday prior to the tasting date. If the form and documents are incomplete the oil will not be tested. Refer to this document if you need to create a LOT number.

5

Tasting

The SA Olive panel tastes the oil to determine if it’s extra virgin and free of any defects.

6

Report

A tasting report is sent to the applicant. One report for each sample submitted.

7

Order your CTC Seals

If the report states that the oil is certified as extra virgin, CTC seals can be ordered by sending a mail to info@saolive.co.za.

8

Invoice

SA Olive provides the producer with invoices for the oils tasted and seals collected.

CTC PARTICIPANTS

During the past years, South African Extra Virgin Olive Oils have regularly received international quality awards, proving that locally produced Extra Virgin Olive Oils can compete successfully with the best in the world. Refer to the list of Scheme participants below to find your closest source of quality EVOO.

View the CTC participant lists below:

2023 HARVEST PARTICIPANTS
2022 HARVEST PARTICIPANTS
2021 HARVEST PARTICIPANTS

SA OLIVE ORGANOLEPTIC TASTING PANEL

The SA Olive Organoleptic Tasting Panel (the Panel) is the vehicle through which SA Olive implements its strategy of adherence to quality standards in EVOO production. The Panel consists of a group of olive oil tasters with diverse backgrounds who have voluntarily committed to placing their sensory skills at the service of the olive industry.  All tasters espouse a set of agreed principles that have been documented, along with other information, in the PANEL HANDBOOK. The Panel has received accreditation with the IOC for the period 2022-2023.

If you are interested in joining the Panel, or just attending a tasting session as an observer, contact Wendy at wendy@saolive.co.za.

ACCREDITED LABORATORIES

The following laboratories are SANAS accredited for FFA and PV analyses on olive oil:

Peter Johnson Laboratories

SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd

GOT ANY

QUESTIONS?

If you have any enquiries, contact

SA Olive Office, Marita Bussack at info@saolive.co.za
Chief Executive Officer, Wendy Petersen at wendy@saolive.co.za