JOOP 2026 - Japan's top quality International Olive Oil Competition
The JOOP (Japan Olive Oil Prize) is Japan’s boutique olive oil contest dedicated to promoting exceptional extra virgin olive oils from around the world. Proudly and firmly anchored to values of transparency, integrity and accountability, JOOP strives to educate Japanese consumers and enhance the growth of ethically produced EVOO in the Japanese market. JOOP aims to:
- Foster quality enhancement efforts of olive oil producers worldwide
- Facilitate market access to Japan for premium producers
- Connect international producers with distributors and consumers in Japan
- Promote excellence in olive oil production through rigorous evaluation
- Recognize outstanding Extra Virgin Olive Oils through expert jury assessment
This international contest features professional jury panels, prestigious awards, and provides unparalleled opportunities for market entry into Japan's growing premium olive oil sector.
🚀 How to Enter Japan's Top Olive Oil Contest
Participating in JOOP is straightforward. Follow our step-by-step registration process to enter your Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Japan's most prestigious olive oil contest:
1Online Registration
Begin your journey by registering on the official JOOP website. You'll receive a confirmation email with access credentials. During registration, you can select your preferred judging panel language for this international contest.
Register Now2Access Your Dashboard
Once registered for the olive oil contest, log into your personal dashboard to manage your entries and track your participation status.
Login to Dashboard3Purchase Entry Tickets
Each JOOP ticket allows you to enter one Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Purchase tickets directly from your dashboard by clicking "BUY YOUR JOOP TICKETS." Bulk discounts apply when purchasing 4 or more entries. We accept credit cards (immediate activation) and bank transfers (up to 10 business days processing). Invoices and receipts are provided via email and available in your "My Orders" section.
4Register Your Company
After purchasing entry tickets, add your company information to participate in the contest. You can register up to 20 companies if you're representing multiple producers. Complete company details including logo are required (Max 800x800px, 500KB).
5Enter Your Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Register each Extra Virgin Olive Oil by clicking "ADD NEW EVOO" in your dashboard. Each entry uses one ticket and requires detailed product information for jury evaluation.
6Monitor Your Entry Status
Track your olive oil entries on the "My EVOOs" page. Monitor status updates (e.g., "Not arrived yet", "Arrived and stored") and print official Application Forms to include with your samples.
7Ship Your Samples
Complete your entry by shipping your samples following our detailed guidelines. Refer to the Sample Submission Requirements section below for complete instructions.
📋 Entry Requirements
Eligible Participants
JOOP welcomes direct olive oil producers, producer associations, cooperatives, and authorized distributors from around the world to participate in Japan's premier olive oil contest.
Production Requirements
Minimum Production Volumes:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Homogeneous batch of at least 500 kg per entry.
- Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Homogeneous batch of at least 100 kg per entry.
Production Year
All Extra Virgin Olive Oils entered must be from the 2025/2026 harvest season to ensure freshness and quality standards.
🔬 Technical Standards & Laboratory Analysis
Required Chemical Analysis Certificate
Mandatory Documentation: All samples must include a chemical analysis certificate from a qualified laboratory accredited under EN 17025 and compliant with COI/Reg. EU 2022/2104, 2022/2105 standards.
Required Chemical Parameters
The chemical analysis certificate must include these mandatory parameters:
- Free Oleic Acid Content: Weight-percent concentration indicating free acidity degree, essential for Extra Virgin Olive Oil classification.
- Peroxide Value: Measurement of peroxide quantity indicating oxidation level, critical for quality assessment.
- UV Spectrophotometry Results: K232, K270, and ΔK (Delta K) values demonstrating oil quality and authenticity.
Optional Parameters
These parameters strengthen your entry profile:
- Total Biophenol Content: Per COI/T.20/doc.29-2009, measuring antioxidant capacity - valuable for premium categories.
- Alkyl Esters Content: Including methyl esters (FAMEs) and ethyl esters (FAEEs) per CE 61/2011, indicating production integrity.
Laboratory Accreditation: Chemical analysis must be performed by laboratories accredited under EN 17025 standards and following current COI (International Olive Council) and EU regulations for international validity.
👨⚖️ Expert Jury & Evaluation Process
Jury Composition
The JOOP jury consists of twelve certified sensorial analysis judges organized into four expert panels, each led by a qualified panel leader. All judges are certified professionals with extensive international olive oil evaluation experience.
Integrity Declaration: All judges must sign conflict-of-interest declarations before evaluation, confirming no vested interest in participating olive oils. This ensures complete impartiality in the judging process.
Evaluation Procedure
The evaluation follows strict international protocols ensuring consistency and accuracy:
Evaluation Methodology
- "Double-Dummy" Analysis: Each olive oil undergoes blind testing protocols eliminating bias during evaluation.
- Standardized Conditions: Evaluation sheets, timing, and temperatures follow (EU) 2022/2104 regulations for international standards.
- Statistical Analysis: Judges determine scores using median method and robust standard coefficient per EU 2022/2104 requirements.
Jury Authority
- Category Reassignment: Jury reserves rights to reassign olive oils to appropriate categories based on sensory characteristics.
- Data Confidentiality: Complete confidentiality of all data and information throughout the evaluation process.
- Final Decisions: All jury decisions are final and cannot be appealed, ensuring contest integrity.
🏆 Awards & Categories
JOOP evaluates entries using a comprehensive 100-point scale. Awards are assigned based on scores achieved within specific categories. The main categories include:
- Delicate, Medium, and Intense Fruity EVOO Categories
- Flavored EVOO Contest (separate division)
Quality Awards
These prestigious prizes recognize oils meeting exceptional quality standards:
🥈 Silver Prize
Recognizes excellent quality olive oils with superior production standards.
🥇 Gold Prize
Awarded to premium quality olive oils with exceptional characteristics.
🌟 Best in Class Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring Gold Prize winners, representing the pinnacle of quality in Japan's premier olive oil contest.
Design Awards
A separate expert jury evaluates packaging excellence (bottle, label, and overall design).
Special Recognition
These exclusive recognitions highlight specific achievements:
- Best of JOOP 2026: Awarded to the non-flavored EVOO achieving the absolute highest score.
- Best of Country Awards: Highest scoring olive oil from each participating country.
- Best Organic, Monovarietal, Blend, P.D.O., P.G.I.: Top-scoring oils in specialized sub-categories.
💶 Competition Entry Costs & Pricing
Early Bird Competition Rate: €195 per entry (until January 31, 2026)
Standard Competition Rate: €235 per entry (until March 31, 2026)
Bulk Competition Discount: €175 per entry from the 4th olive oil onwards in the competition.
Competition Payment Methods
We accept Credit/Debit Cards and Bank Transfer for competition entries. All banking fees must be covered by competition participants. Competition entry fees are non-refundable.
📦 Competition Sample Submission Requirements
Your olive oil competition submission package must include:
- A signed copy of your completed online competition application form.
- 1.00 L of olive oil per competition entry (e.g., 2x500ml or 4x250ml bottles).
- Chemical analysis certificate from an EN 17025 certified laboratory including all required parameters listed in the Competition Technical Standards section.
- Declare packages as "SAMPLE, NO COMMERCIAL VALUE, NOT FOR SALE" for competition purposes.
- Competition Sample Arrival Deadline: April 9, 2026.
- All shipping and customs costs for competition samples are the participant's responsibility.
❓ Competition FAQ
Competition Registration & Payment
Q: Can I register multiple olive oils from different companies in the competition?
A: Yes! You can represent up to 20 different companies in a single competition account. Each company and olive oil requires separate competition entries and tickets.
Q: What happens if I miss the early bird deadline for the competition?
A: You can still register for the olive oil competition at the standard rate of €235 until March 31, 2026.
Competition Technical Requirements
Q: What if my laboratory cannot provide all required chemical parameters for competition?
A: The basic parameters (free acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, ΔK) are mandatory for competition participation and must be provided by an EN 17025 certified laboratory. Optional parameters like biophenols and alkyl esters strengthen your competition entry but aren't required.
Q: Can I submit oils that don't meet minimum production volumes to the competition?
A: No, minimum production volumes (500kg for EVOO, 100kg for flavored EVOO) are strictly enforced in the competition to ensure commercial viability and authenticity.
Competition Shipping & Samples
Q: What if my competition samples arrive late?
A: Unfortunately, competition samples arriving after April 9, 2026 cannot be accepted for judging. We recommend shipping competition samples with tracking and insurance.
Q: Can I use different bottle sizes for my competition samples?
A: Yes, as long as the total quantity reaches 1.00L per competition entry. Common combinations include 2×500ml, 4×250ml, or other equivalent volumes.
Competition Evaluation Process
Q: Can I appeal the competition jury's decision?
A: No, all competition jury decisions are final and cannot be appealed. This ensures the integrity and consistency of the olive oil competition.
Q: What happens if the jury reassigns my olive oil to a different competition category?
A: The competition jury has authority to reassign oils based on sensory characteristics. This ensures oils compete in the most appropriate category and maintains competition fairness.
Competition Awards & Results
Q: When will I receive my competition results?
A: Competition results are published on April 17, 2026 and immediately available in your dashboard. Email notifications are sent to all competition participants.
Q: How are the competition scoring ranges determined?
A: Our expert competition panel uses internationally recognized sensory evaluation criteria following EU 2022/2104 regulations. Current ranges: Silver (70.0-85.0), Gold (85.0-100.0), and Best in Class awarded to top ~15 Gold competition winners.
📞 Competition Contact & Support
JOOP 2026 Competition Organizing Committee
Competition Email: [email protected]
Competition Phone: +81-3-6809-5802
Contact us for any questions about Japan's premier olive oil competition.