AOOPA is a unified voice for policies to create a fair global olive oil market with effective, uniform standards and no artificial barriers to trade.

In 2012-13, AOOPA worked with the US International Trade Commission (USITC) on its investigation of conditions in the global olive oil marketplace. The USITC’s final report documented widespread fraud, mislabeling and subsidies that present significant trade barriers in global olive oil markets.

In the California Legislature in 2013, AOOPA was a leading proponent for the creation of the Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC), and in 2014, its adoption of the world’s most rigorous government olive oil testing and labeling standards. These standards apply only to California’s largest producers, but are a model for a broader effective testing regime. 

AOOPA members believe the exchange of information about olive oil production and trade should transcend national borders to promote the healthiest market for all global participants. With that goal, AOOPA was one of the founding member associations of the World Olive Oil Trade Group (WOOTG) in 2016. WOOTG provides member countries a forum to share ideas and information about the growing global olive oil industry and promote a barrier-free global market.