Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Spain is an import-dependent market for dates, while domestic fresh-date production is a small niche concentrated around Elche (Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana) and nearby municipalities covered by the “CV Dátil de Elche” quality regulation. The Elche fresh-date season is strongly seasonal, with harvest activity described from autumn through winter (and, under the CV regulation, potentially extending into early spring depending on maturity stage and campaign conditions). Spain also imports significant volumes of dates under HS 080410 (fresh or dried), with Israel and Tunisia among the leading external suppliers in recent UN Comtrade-based statistics. For plant-health entry requirements, EU rules list fruits of Phoenix dactylifera (dates) among items for which a phytosanitary certificate is not required to introduce into the EU territory, even though imported consignments remain within the broader EU/Spain official-control framework.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market with a small domestic fresh-date niche centered in Baix Vinalopó (Elche area).
Domestic RoleSeasonal premium niche product (“Dátil de Elche” under the regional CV quality framework) sold mainly through local channels and selected retail/foodservice; domestic volumes are limited relative to imported supply.
SeasonalityDomestic fresh-date availability is seasonal and centered on the Elche palm-grove area, with harvest windows reported from autumn into winter; under the “CV Dátil de Elche” regulation the harvest period can extend from September to April depending on variety, maturity stage, and campaign conditions.
Specification
Primary VarietyMedjoul
Physical Attributes- Under the CV Dátil de Elche regulation, the fruit is described as an oblong berry (approximately 4–8 cm) with golden-yellow to reddish-brown coloration at maturity and a single elongated pit with a longitudinal groove.
Compositional Metrics- Commercial maturity stages referenced in the CV regulation include Khalal, Rutab, and Tamar; moisture and maturity stage are explicitly linked to conservation behavior in the regulation.
Grades- “CV Dátil de Elche” quality framework (Comunitat Valenciana) sets requirements for product description, production area, handling, and labelling.
- For the CV label, the regulation states that only dates of category “Extra” or “First” are to be labeled as “Dátil de Elche Marca CV” (with definitions of allowable defects).
Packaging- The CV regulation specifies transport using wooden or cardboard boxes; if plastic is used, reuse after cleaning must be ensured.
- For retail presentation under the CV framework, packaging should protect the product and may use materials such as paper, cardboard, wood, or other recyclable/reusable materials, consistent with the regulation’s environmental-minimization intent.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Elche-area groves (Baix Vinalopó) → manual harvest (by unit or entire infructescence depending on variety/characteristics) → sorting/handling and possible ripening in chamber (as described in the CV regulation) → distribution via Spanish retail/foodservice and local market channels; imported dates enter via standard EU/Spain official controls pathways.
Shelf Life- The CV Dátil de Elche regulation states that, depending on maturity stage and moisture percentage, dates have natural conservation up to one year; commercialization may occur at Khalal, Rutab, and Tamar stages.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Plant Health HighRed Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is described by FAO as the most dangerous threat to date palm and has been detected in Spain; outbreaks can destroy palms and materially disrupt the already small domestic fresh-date niche around Elche while increasing phytosanitary vigilance for palm-related supply chains.Require domestic suppliers to document monitoring and integrated pest-management measures for palm groves; avoid sourcing from areas under active infestation signals; monitor official plant-health communications and local authority guidance for affected zones.
Regulatory Compliance MediumOrigin/provenance labeling for certain origins can trigger enforcement and reputational risk: EU case-law requires explicit settlement provenance indication for foodstuffs from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, and mislabeling may be treated as misleading consumers.Implement supplier origin attestations and label verification workflows; segregate lots by precise origin/provenance and ensure retailer-facing documentation supports compliant labeling where relevant.
Climate MediumElche-area harvest volumes and quality can be sensitive to autumn rainfall and humidity events during maturation; local reporting cites campaigns where October rains accelerated maturation and reduced output versus the prior year.Use multi-sourcing (imports + domestic niche) for continuity during the Elche season; align procurement to maturity stage windows (Khalal/Rutab/Tamar) and maintain flexible purchase programs during adverse weather periods.
Sustainability- Water and irrigation management in the arid Elche/Camp d’Elx context: the CV regulation discusses irrigation practices (including traditional flood irrigation and increasing drip adoption) and notes palms do not require large quantities of water.
- Environmental-minimization intent embedded in the CV Dátil de Elche regulation (e.g., preference for recyclable/reusable packaging materials and minimization of impacts).
- Local policy interest in using reclaimed/regenerated water for irrigation to support date production quality/volumes (reported in municipal/tourism communications for the Elche date season).
Labor & Social- Sector continuity risk in the domestic niche: local reporting describes the Elche date sector as limited in number of families/producers and exposed to lack of generational replacement.
- Human-rights and conflict-related due-diligence sensitivity for some imported origins: EU-origin labeling rules for goods from occupied territories (including settlement provenance indications) can create compliance and reputational exposure for importers/retailers depending on sourcing.
FAQ
When is Spain’s domestic fresh-date season (Elche) typically available?Domestic fresh dates linked to the Elche palm-grove area are described as seasonal. VisitElche notes an October–January harvest window for Medjoul and a November–March window for the local Confitera variety, while the official “CV Dátil de Elche” regulation describes a harvest period that can extend from September to April depending on campaign conditions.
What are the main supplying origins for Spain’s imports of dates (HS 080410)?UN Comtrade-based statistics published via WITS show Spain importing HS 080410 dates (fresh or dried) from multiple partners, with Israel and Tunisia among the leading direct origins in 2023, alongside Algeria and intra-EU partners such as France and Belgium (often reflecting redistribution or re-exports).
Do fresh dates need a phytosanitary certificate to be introduced into Spain from non-EU countries?EU plant-health rules in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 list fruits of Phoenix dactylifera (dates; CN 0804 10 00) among items for which a phytosanitary certificate is not required for introduction into the EU territory. Importers still need to comply with broader EU official-controls and border procedures.
What does the “CV Dátil de Elche” quality regulation cover?The official Comunitat Valenciana regulation (ORDEN 11/2023, DOGV) sets the product definition and the production area for “CV Dátil de Elche” to dates produced in the municipalities of Elche, Santa Pola and Crevillent, and it specifies handling, maturity-stage references, packaging/transport expectations and labeling requirements. It also states that only Extra or First category dates can be labeled as “Dátil de Elche Marca CV.”