Do I need pre-market approval to import plain dates into the EU?

No pre-market approval is typically required for plain dates; however, importers must comply with EU food law, traceability, pesticide residue limits, contaminant limits and labelling under FIC 1169/2011. Country-specific language rules apply.

What HS code applies to dates for EU customs?

Most whole or pitted dates fall under HS code 0804.10 (fresh or dried). Check TARIC sub-divisions for exact duties by form and origin.

What temperatures are recommended for transporting soft dates?

Soft/moist varieties (e.g., Medjool, Ajwa, Kimia/Mazafati) travel best at 4–12 °C with humidity control and insulated last-mile in summer.

Import Saudi Dates to Europe: Compliance, Logistics & Pricing

Import Saudi Dates to Europe (2025): EU Rules, Sourcing, Logistics & Wholesale

Importing Saudi dates to the European Union

Updated: 22 Sep 2025 • EU Import Playbook

Importing Saudi Dates to Europe: Complete 2025 Guide

This article focuses on European import & market entry (EU/EEA & UK). It avoids duplicating “best varieties” content to prevent keyword cannibalisation across Dates.Business.

Why Europe Buys Saudi Dates

Europe’s climate is unsuited to date cultivation, so retailers and health brands rely on imports from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Iran and Egypt. Saudi dates are prized for consistency, heritage, and premium perception, particularly in Medjool-style premium gifting, Ajwa cultural gifting, and daily snacking with soft varieties such as Kimia/Mazafati.

Seasonal Spikes

Ramadan, Easter and Christmas drive uplift; plan inventory cycles and themed gift boxes.

Health Momentum

High fibre, potassium and “no added sugar” fit EU clean-label trends and sports nutrition.

Format Variety

Whole, pitted, diced and paste open doors to bakery, bars, granola and confectionery.

Positioning tip: Build separate landing pages for import business vs variety rankings. Use distinct internal anchors (e.g., “EU import rules for dates”) to avoid keyword overlap.

EU Compliance & Labelling (FIC 1169/2011)

Plain dates can enter the EU without pre-market authorisation, but food information must comply with FIC 1169/2011 and country-specific language rules.

Label Checklist

Name of food: “Dates” (+ form: whole, pitted, diced; “date paste” if applicable).
Net quantity: g/kg; font sizes per pack face area.
Nutrition table: per 100 g (EU format); energy in kJ/kcal.
Ingredients: dates (add “pit removed” if pitted). If using glazing oil, list it.
Allergens: none in plain dates, but may contain statements if packed where nuts are handled.
Origin: “Origin: Saudi Arabia” (or specific region if you claim it).
Business details: EU FBO name & address responsible for information.
Lot/Best before: batch code and date in EU format (DD/MM/YYYY).
Storage: “Store cool & dry”; for soft varieties add “Refrigerate after opening.”
Languages: country-specific (e.g., DE for Germany, FR for France, IT for Italy, ES for Spain, NL for Netherlands).

Food Safety & Claims

MRLs & contaminants: ensure compliance with EU limits; keep lab reports.
Organic: require EU organic certification and control body code on label.
Nutrition/health claims: only authorised claims; “no added sugar” allowed if true.
Traceability: 1-up/1-down records; retain supplier docs and lots.

Heads-up: If you glaze dates with oil or use sulphites (uncommon for premium dates), labelling and allergens must reflect this. Keep specs transparent to avoid border rejections.

Customs: HS/TARIC, EORI, Duties & VAT

Codes & Numbers

HS code: 0804.10 (fresh/dried dates). Check TARIC for sub-codes and duties.
EORI: required for EU importers; UK importers need UK EORI.
Docs: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/air waybill, certificate of origin if needed.

Duties & VAT

Duty rates depend on origin and product form; consult TARIC at shipment time.
VAT: charged at destination country rates (reduced in some markets for basic foods).
Use Incoterms that fit your model (DAP vs DDP) and align on who handles clearance.

Consider a customs broker for first shipments; they’ll align HS codes, valuation, and documentary needs to minimise delays.

Sourcing: Specs Suppliers Respect

Request spec-driven quotes so you can compare offers fairly across exporters.

Spec	What to Request	Why It Matters
Variety & Origin	Medjool, Ajwa, Sukkari, Kimia/Mazafati, Deglet Noor, Zahidi	Flavour & shelf stability vary; consumers seek clear origin cues.
Size-count / Grade	e.g., Medjool 16–18 / 18–22 / 22–26; Ajwa Large/Medium	Defines visual impact and price bracket.
Moisture/Brix	Declared range + recent lab note/photos	Predicts cold-chain and texture.
Defect tolerance	% skin breaks, pits in pitted, insect damage (max), foreign matter (zero)	Avoids disputes; ensures retail readiness.
Crop year & lot	Printed on cartons; full traceability	Freshness & recall readiness.
Packs	5/10 kg bulk; retail 250 g–1 kg; gift boxes	Impacts freight and merchandising.
Certs	Halal, ISO/FSSC, Organic (if needed)	Retailer and marketplace eligibility.
Incoterms	FOB/CIF/CFR/DAP/DDP as agreed	Clarifies risk and cost ownership.

Sampling: Ask for two adjacent counts (e.g., 18–22 vs 22–26 Medjool) to balance cost vs presentation. Request sealed case photos from the same lot you’ll purchase.

Logistics: Cold Chain & Incoterms

Transport Choices

Soft/moist dates (Medjool, Ajwa, Kimia/Mazafati): 4–12 °C, insulated last-mile; air for urgent, reefer sea for scale.
Semi-dry (Deglet Noor, Zahidi, Piarom, Mabroom): 15–20 °C; dry container + thermal liners; desiccants in humid months.

Incoterms & Insurance

FOB/CIF for experienced importers with brokers.
DAP/DDP if you want the exporter to handle clearance/taxes (mind VAT cashflow).
Cargo insurance with temp-excursion clauses for reefers.

Receiving SOP: Record outer/inner temps, photograph pallets, verify lot numbers, allow cartons to acclimatise before opening to reduce condensation and sugar bloom.

Pricing: Landed €/kg to Retail €/pack

Start with landed cost = EXW/FOB + ocean/air + insurance + duty + brokerage + port/inland + storage + shrink. Then layer channel margins.

Wholesale

Deglet Noor diced/paste: tighter margin, higher velocity.
Medjool 18–22: premium ASP; plan Ramadan & Q4 spikes.
Quote €/kg and €/case; offer pallet & multi-pallet breaks.

Retail & Marketplaces

250–500 g pouches for entry price; 750 g–1 kg family packs for value seekers.
Samplers (Medjool/Ajwa/Deglet Noor) to lift AOV.
Subscriptions and free-shipping thresholds for D2C.

Promos: Ramadan gift sleeves, Christmas hampers, sport-energy bundles (with nut butters/protein).

Packaging & Sustainability for EU Retail

Design That Converts

Matte pouches with clear window; concise benefits: “No added sugar • High fibre • Plant-based”.
Gift boxes with rigid trays; print size-count (e.g., Medjool 18–22) for transparency.
QR code to provenance story and recipes in DE/FR/IT/ES/NL.

Eco & Compliance

Choose recyclable mono-material films where feasible; declare disposal icons per market.
Organic SKUs: include EU leaf logo + control body code.
Country-language panels; keep font sizes FIC-compliant.

Go-to-Market in Germany • France • Italy • Spain • Netherlands

Channel Playbook

Germany: Bio & Reformhaus stores; organic Medjool, Deglet Noor diced for bakery.
France: Premium gifting and pâtisserie; Ajwa for cultural demand.
Italy: Gastronomy & gelato—date paste for desserts.
Spain: Supermarkets + tourism hubs; value 500 g pouches.
Netherlands: Marketplace-driven (Bol, Amazon NL); clean-label messaging.

Merchandising

Endcaps during Ramadan/Christmas; cross-merch with nuts, yogurt, cheese.
Recipe cards in local languages; shelf-edge “no added sugar”.
In-store tastings: conversion booster; collect reviews post-purchase.

Warehouse, QC & Shelf-Life SOPs

QC On Arrival

Check temperature, pallet condition, case integrity.
Verify lot numbers, crop year, size-count and supplier labels.
Random cut-tests for texture, defects, presence of pits in pitted SKUs.

Storage Targets

Soft: 4–12 °C; RH ≤60%; airtight after opening.
Semi-dry: 15–20 °C; dark & dry; use pallets and airflow.
Rotation: FIFO/FEFO; monthly hygiene and pest logs.

Condensation control: Let cartons acclimatise before opening to avoid surface moisture and sugar bloom. Reseal promptly.

E-commerce SEO for Europe (Long-Tail, Country-Specific)

On-Page Structure

Country pages targeting long-tails: “buy Medjool dates online Germany”, “Deglet Noor diced wholesale France”.
Unique copy per market; avoid copy-paste across locales to prevent cannibalisation.
FAQ schema on product pages; include delivery, storage, and origin.

Content That Wins

Guides: “How to read EU date labels (FIC)”; “Choosing size-count for gifts”.
Recipes localised (FR pâtisserie, IT dessert, DE breakfast bowls).
UGC and retailer reviews; short reels for storage tips.

Marketplace hygiene: Standardise titles (variety + size-count + origin), bullets (benefits, storage), and €/kg disclosure. Syndicate A+ content where available.

Copy-Paste RFQ (Europe)

Subject: RFQ —  Dates (Size-Count & Grade), , 

Specs:
• Variety & Origin: 
• Size-count / Grade: 
• Crop Year & Lot: 
• Moisture/Brix: 
• Pack: <5/10 kg bulk> and/or 
• Certifications: 
• Labelling: FIC-ready (DE/FR/IT/ES/NL), origin, lot, storage
• Quantity: 
• Delivery:  | Incoterm: 
• Documents: commercial invoice, PL, BL/AWB, origin cert, recent lab note
• Samples: 1–2 kg; confirm same lot as production

Please quote landed €/kg (and €/case) by grade, include case photos and lead time from deposit to EU warehouse.

FAQs

Which variety should I launch first in Europe? Medjool 18–22 for premium gifting/snacking; add Deglet Noor diced for bakery; consider Ajwa for cultural peaks.

Do I need multi-language labels? Yes—labels must be in the official language(s) of the country of sale (e.g., DE in Germany, FR in France).

How long do soft dates last? Typically 6–9 months sealed at 4–12 °C; semi-dry up to ~12 months at 15–20 °C. Always follow supplier specs.

This guide is informational only—not legal advice. Confirm details with your customs broker and food law counsel.

Need EU-ready wholesale lots or private-label packs?

Tell us your variety, size-count, target countries and delivery terms. We’ll shortlist vetted lots, send samples and quote landed €/kg.

💬 +91 88796 66906 (WhatsApp) • 📧 hurzuk.abid@gmail.com • 🌐 dates.business

The Date Source: Your Guide to Variety, Health & Trade

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