Commercial Invoice
The primary commercial document: seller, buyer, Incoterm, product description, HS code, unit and total value, currency, payment terms. Used by customs for duty assessment and by your finance team for booking the purchase.
Packing List
Lists exactly what is inside the shipment: pallet numbers, box counts, gross and net weights, dimensions, SKU breakdown. Essential for physical checks on arrival and for insurance claims if anything goes missing.
Bill of Lading (B/L) or CMR
The transport contract and title document. A sea Bill of Lading is issued for containers; a CMR waybill is issued for road freight within Europe. Original B/Ls are often required for release of cargo at destination.
Certificate of Origin
Issued by a chamber of commerce or equivalent authority. Declares that the goods originate in Greece. Required for import into many non-EU markets (GCC, some North African, Latin American markets) and often requested for tender programmes.
EUR.1 Movement Certificate
Preferential origin certificate for shipments moving under a free-trade agreement between the EU and a partner country (for example the UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Egypt, Japan). Correctly presented, EUR.1 gives your customer preferential (often zero) import duty.
ATR Movement Certificate
The Customs Union document for shipments between the EU and Türkiye. Confirms the goods are in free circulation in the EU and are entitled to preferential treatment under the EU-Türkiye Customs Union.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
Issued by an accredited laboratory or the producer's QC department. Confirms that a specific production batch meets the agreed specification: acidity and peroxide value for olive oil, protein and fat for dairy, brix and pH for preserves, microbiology across the board. Always require a CoA per lot for food-safety-sensitive categories.
Health Certificate
Issued by the competent Greek authority (usually EFET or a regional veterinary service). Certifies that the products of animal origin (dairy, some processed products) are fit for human consumption and were produced under approved sanitary conditions. Mandatory for import into most non-EU destinations for dairy and animal-origin goods.
Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued by the Greek plant-health authority. Required for import of plant-origin products (olives, some processed vegetables) into destinations that require plant-health clearance, particularly outside the EU.
Insurance Certificate
Under CIF or CIP the seller arranges marine insurance and provides the certificate; under FOB, EXW or FCA the buyer arranges it. Cover typically follows Institute Cargo Clauses (A), (B) or (C) depending on cargo sensitivity.
Additional documents on request
- PDO / PGI certificates linking a batch to a protected designation.
- Organic (BIO) transaction certificate for organic-labelled goods.
- Halal or Kosher certificates where the market requires.
- Non-GMO declaration.
- Allergen statement and nutritional analysis.
- MSDS for products that require it (rare in food but occasional for concentrates).
Buyer FAQ
Questions we hear repeatedly from importers, distributors, retailers and HoReCa buyers.
What documents do I need for a first shipment of Greek olive oil to the UK?
Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading or CMR, EUR.1 (for preferential duty under the EU-UK TCA), Certificate of Analysis per lot, Certificate of Origin, and, for retail-packed goods, a private-label artwork approval file. Health Certificate is not required for olive oil.
When is a Health Certificate required?
For products of animal origin (dairy, fish, some processed goods) shipped to most non-EU destinations. Issued by the competent Greek veterinary authority per shipment.
What is the difference between EUR.1 and ATR?
EUR.1 is a preferential-origin certificate under EU Free Trade Agreements. ATR is a Customs Union document between the EU and Türkiye that confirms free circulation status; it is not an origin certificate.
Do I need a Phytosanitary Certificate for canned Greek fruit?
Usually no for canned/processed. Yes for fresh or minimally processed plant-origin goods shipped to destinations that require plant-health clearance.
How long is a Certificate of Analysis valid?
A CoA is issued per production lot and is valid for that specific lot for the duration of its shelf life. Some markets and buyers request retention samples plus retest at destination.
Who issues the Certificate of Origin in Greece?
The Chambers of Commerce (Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki and regional chambers). Producers or their freight forwarders typically request it on the buyer's behalf.
Can documents be sent electronically?
Commercial Invoice, Packing List and Certificate of Analysis routinely, yes. EUR.1, ATR, Health and Phytosanitary Certificates are issued as physical originals; scans are sent for pre-clearance and originals follow by courier.
What happens if a document has an error at destination?
Minor errors can be corrected by a producer amendment. Errors in EUR.1, ATR or Health Certificates require replacement issue by the competent authority, which delays clearance. Pre-shipment document review is the cheapest insurance you can buy.