هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION ( GSO )  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final Draft 
 
 
 
GSO / DS 076/2014 
 
 
  
 
Edible Nigella  Sativa  Seed Oil 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Gulf technical committee for sector standards of  food and agric ulture products  
This document is a draft Gulf standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, subject to 
alteration and modification, and may not be referred as a Gulf standard, until approved by the 
Board of Directors                                                                                                                                   
 
 
 
ICS: 67: 200 
  
  
 
 
 
FORWARD  
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the 
National Standards Bodies of GCC member St ates. One of GSO main functions is to issue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulation s through specialized technical committees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No.:.(5) "  Gulf technical committee for 
standards of food and agriculture p roducts " has update  the GSO Standard  GSO 670/1997  
Edible Nigella  Sativa Seed Oil " . The Draft Standard has been prepared by (STATE OF  
QATAR ) .  
 This standard has been approved as a Gulf Technical Regulation  by GSO Board of Directors  
in its meeting No.(  ), held on      h    ( G)  and cancel and replaced standard no 
(GSO670/1997)  .  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Gulf  Standard                                                                                        GSO 670 / 2014    
 
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Edible  niger  sativa seed  oil  
 
1.    Scope  : 
       This Gulf standard is concerned  with requirements  for  edible Nigella Sativa Seed Oil 
firm (virg in and refined ) intended for  food and   not for medical use .    
 
2.     Complementary Standers:  
2.1 GSO 9 "Label ing of prepackaged foodstuffs".  
2.2 GSO 15 "Methods of Sampling food oils and fats."  
2.3 GSO 16 " Physical and chemical for testing  edible  vegetab le oils and fats " .  
2.4 GSO 17 " Methods of  test for permitted  additives  in edible  oils and fats  – part1  " 
2.5   GSO 20 " Methods for  the determination of  contemning metallic elements in  food 
stuffs ." 
2.6 GSO 21 " hygienic regulation  for food plants and their personal ." 
2.7 GSO 168 "  Requirements  of storage  facilities for dry  and canned  food stuffs " . 
2.8 GSO 275 " Determination of  fatty acids in  animal and vegetable fats  and oils  -Second Part : 
Analysis by gas liquid – Chromatography of methyl esters of f atty acids liquid gas."  
2.9 GSO 382 " Maximum limits for pesticide residues in agricultural food products Part 1." 
2.10 GSO 383 "Maximum allowable limits of pesticide residues in agricultural and food 
products Part 2." 
2.11 GSO 643  " Whole and ground  Niger (NIGELLA SATIVA) S eeds ." 
2.12 GSO 839 "Food packages first part General  Requirements ." 
2.13 GSO 988 "Limits of Radioactivity levels permitted in food - the first part."  
 
3.  Definitions:  
3.1 Virgin black seed oil :    
Extracted from the seeds of black seed ( Nigella sativa L .), without a change in the  nature of 
the oil by mechanical processes press or pressure -helix without the use of heat and extraction 
with organ ic solvents or in any other way  which is purified by wa shing with water 
sedimentation  filtration and centrifugation only.  
3.2 Refined black seed  Oil :  
 Virgin black seed Oil which  is purified  refining  and bleaching  and deodorization  to be  fit for  
human consumption .   
4       Requirements:  
The following shall be met in edible Nigella Sativa See d Oil:  
4.1 It shall be produced from Nigella Sativa Seeds which comply with GSO standard 
mentioned in item No. (2.11).  
4.2 It shall be free from any other oils or fats, completely free from pig products or their 
derivatives or any other animal fats.     Gulf  Standard                                                                                        GSO 670 / 2014    
 
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 4.3 It shall have the taste and odor distinguishing the product, and shall be free from strange 
taste and rancid odor.  
4.4 No additives shall be allowed to the Virgin Nigella Sativa Seed Oil.  
4.5 It shall be clear and free from any turbidity, or the raw mat erials from which it is 
extracted, and from materials used in its purification.  
4.6 It shall be free from mineral oils.  
4.7 Ratio of humidity and volatile matters at 105ᵒC shall not exceed 0.2% (m/m).  
4.8 Insoluble impurities content shall not exceed 0. 05%(m/m).  
4.9 un  saponifiable matter shall not exceed 1 .5% (m/m).  
4.10  Acid number shall not exceed 6 mg potassium hydroxide /gm virgin oil, and 0.06mg 
potassium hydroxide/gm for the refined oil.  
4.11 Saponification content ratio shall not exceed 0.005 %(m/m).  
4.12  Its relative density (at 30ᵒ C/30ᵒC for water) shall not be less than 0.917 and not more 
than 0.920.  
4.13 The refractive index (at 40ᵒC) shall be between 1.4665 – 1.4695.  
4.14 Saponification value shall not be less than 189 and not more than 1 35.  
4.15 Mineral matters ratio shall not exceed the following (mg/kg):  
                                         Iron      Copper     Lead     Arsenic  
Virgin Oil                             5          0.4         0.1         0.1  
Refined Oil                          1.5        0.1          0.1             0.1  
4.17 The fatty acid composition (percentage of the fatty acids) using gas chromatography 
analysis shall be as follows:  
Mirstic  acid ( k14:zero)  21-6.2  
Palmitic  acid ( k16:zero)  21 - 0  
Stearic  acid (k 18: ze ro) 2-12 
Oleic acid  (k18:1)  20-50 
Linoleic  acid (k18:2)  35-62 
Linolenic acid  (k18:3)  0.5-4 
Arekedek Acid  (k20:zero)  Zero -3 
Pehinak Acid  (k 22: zero)  Zero -0.5 
    Gulf  Standard                                                                                        GSO 670 / 2014    
 
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 5.   Sampling :   
Samples shall be obtained in accordance with GSO standard mentioned in ite m No. (2.2)  
6.   Testing  Methods:  
All tests on the representative sample shall be conducted in accordance with the GSO 
standard mentioned in item No. (2.3).  
6.1 Test for estimating net weight, and tangible tests, shall be conducted in accordance with 
the GSO standard mentioned in item No. (2.5).  
6.2 Insecticide residues shall be estimated according to GSO  standard mentioned in item 
No.(2.9).  
6.3 Contaminating mineral elements shall be estimated in accordance with GSO standard 
mentioned in item No. (2.5 )  
6.4 Limits of permissible radionuclide levels shall be estimated in accordance with GSO 
standard mentioned in item No. (2.13)  
7. Packaging:  
Without prejudice to the content of GSO standard mentioned in  item (2.12), oil shall be 
packaged in appropriate containers, made of safe materials which do not affect its 
characteristics. Containers shall be adequate, dry, clean, free of any strange odor, not used 
before and have tight covers.  
8. Storage:  
Oil cont ainers shall be stored in well ventilated stores, away from direct sunlight and sources 
of heat and contamination. Stores shall comply with the terms and conditions in GSO 
standard mentioned in item (2.7)  
9.  Labeling :  
Without prejudice to the content o f GSO standard mentioned in item No. (2.1), the package 
label shall show:  
9.1 Batch Number.  
9.2 Additives.