ﻫﻴﺌﺔ اﻟﺘﻘﻴﻴس ﻟدوﻝ ﻤﺠﻠس اﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻟدوﻝ اﻟﺨﻠﻴﺞ اﻟﻌرﺒﻴﺔ 
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION ( GSO )  
 
        
Finial Draft  
 
 
 
GSO / DS 670/2014 
 
 
  
 
Edible Nigella Sativa Seed  Oil 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Gulf technical committee for sector standards of  food and agri culture 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 S tates. 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 products " 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 2T(GSO670/1997) 2T .  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Gulf  Standard                                                                                        GSO 670 / 2014    
 
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Edible niger sativa seed oil  
 
1.    Scope  : 
       This Gulf standard is concerned 2T with requirements 2T 2Tfor 2T edible Nigella Sativa Seed 
Oil 2Tfirm 2T 2T(virgin 2T 2Tand 2T 2Trefined 2T) 2Tintended for 2T 2Tfood and 2T  2Tnot 2T 2Tfor medical use 2T.    
 
2.     Complementary S tanders:  
2.1 GSO 9 "Label ing of prepackaged foodstuffs".  
3T2.2 GSO 15 "Methods of Sampling food oils and fats." 3T 
3T2.3 GSO 16 " 3T5TPhysical and chemical for testing  edible  vegeta ble oils and fats " .  
3T2.4 GSO 17 " 3T5TMethods of  test  for permitted  additives  in edible  oils and fats  – part1  " 
3T2.5   GSO 20 " 3T5TMethods for  the determination of  contemning metallic elements in  food 
stuffs 3T5T." 3T 
3T2.6 GSO 21 " 3T5Thygienic regulation  for food plants and their  personal 3T5T." 3T 
3T2.7 GSO 168 " 3T 5TRequirements  of storage  facilities for dry  and canned food stuffs 3T5T" . 
3T2.8 GSO 275 " Determination of  fatty acids in  animal and vegetable fats  and oils  -Second Part : 
Analysis by gas liquid – Chromatography of methyl esters of fatty acids liquid gas." 3T 
3T2.9 GSO 382 " Maximum limits for pesticide residues in agricultural food products Part 1." 3T 
3T2.10 GSO 383 "Maximum allowable limits of pesticide residues in agricultural and food 
products Part 2." 3T 
3T2.11 GSO 643  " 3T 5TWhole and ground Niger (NIGELLA SATIVA) S eeds 3T5T." 3T 
3T2.12 GSO 839 "Food packages first part General  Requirements ." 3T 
3T2.13 GSO 988 "Limits of R adioactivity levels permitted in food -  the first part." 3T 
 
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 organic 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 :  
 2TVirgin black seed Oil which 2T 2Tis purified 2T 2Trefining 2T 2Tand 2T 2Tbleaching 2T 2Tand 2T 2Tdeodorization 2T 2Tto be 2T 2Tfit 
for 2T 2Thuman consumption 2T.   
4       Requirements:  
The following shall be met in edible Nigella Sativa Se ed 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    
 
2 
 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 ma terials 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 135 .  
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:  
2TMirstic 2T 2Tacid ( k14:zero)  12-0.1  
2TPalmitic 2T 2Tacid ( k16:zero)  13 - 6  
2TStearic 2T 2Tacid (k 18: ze ro) 2-12 
2TOleic acid  (k18:1)  20-50 
2TLinoleic 2T 2Tacid (k18:2)  35-62 
2TLinolenic acid  (k18:3)  0.5-4 
2TArekedek Acid  (k20:zero)  Zero -3 
2TPehinak Acid  (k 22: zero)  Zero -0.5 
    Gulf  Standard                                                                                        GSO 670 / 2014    
 
3 
 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 of GSO standard mentioned in item No. (2.1), the package 
label shall show:  
9.1 Batch Number.  
9.2 Additives.