G.C.C STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO) 
 
 
 
 
 
Final  draft  
 
 
 
GSO  05/FDS……/ 2012 (E)  
 
 
 
 
 
Essential oils: Parsley oil  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Gulf technical committee for sector standard of food and agricultural products  
This document is a draft Gulf Standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, subject to 
Alteration and modification, and may not be referred it as a Gulf Standard, until approved by 
the Board of Directors.  
 
ICS 67.200   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 2  
Foreword  
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the 
National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is to issue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulations through specialized technical comm ittees (TCs).  
 
GSO through  the  technical  program of committee TC No. 5" Technical Committee for 
Sector of Food and Agriculture Products " has prepared this gulf standard . The Draft 
Standard has been prepared by ( State of Kuwait ). 
 
The draft Standard has been prepared based on relevant ,International and National foreign 
Standards and references.  
 
This standard has been approved as a Gulf (Technical Regulation) by GSO Board of Directors  
in its meeting No.(       ),held on                                 /     /             H ,      /     /    
 
 
   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 3 Essential oils: Parsley oil  
 
1. Scope  
This Gulf Standard specifies the general requirements and specifications for Parsley 
essential  oil in order to facilitate assessment of its quality . 
 
2. Complementary References  
2.1 GSO 9    "Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs"  
2.2 GSO 21 " Hygienic Regulations for food plants and their personnel".  
2.3 GSO 150 " Expiration periods of  food products ".  
2.4 GSO ISO/TR 210 "Essential oils – General rules for packaging, conditioning and  
storage"  
2.5 GSO ISO TR/211 "Essential oils – General rules for labeling and marking of 
containers"  
2.6   GSO ISO 212 "Essential oils: Sampling"  
2.7 GSO ISO 356 "Essential oils: preparation of test samples"  
2.8     " Essential oils: Determination of relative density at 20oC – reference method"  which 
will be adopted by GSO  
2.9     "Essential oils: Determination of refractive index"  which will be adopted by GSO  
2.10   "Essential oils: determination of optical rotation"  which will be adopted by GSO . 
2.11 GSO ISO 875 "Essential oils – Evaluation of miscibility in Ethanol"   
2.12 GSO ISO 1242 "Essential oils – determination of acid value"  
2.13 GSO ISO 709 "Essential oils –  Determination of ester value"  
2.14 GSO ISO 11024 -1 " Essential oils - general guidanc e on chromatographic profiles – part 
1: preparation of chromatographic profiles for  presentation in standards"  
2.15 GSO ISO 11024 -2 " Essential oils - general guidance on chromatographic profiles – part 
2: Utilization  of chromatographic profiles of samples  of essential oils"    
 
3. Definitions  
Parsley oil : It is the  essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the ripe fruits (seeds) 
or whole parsley plant from (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm) family . 
 
4- General Requirement  
4.1 It should be clear liquid, sometimes crystallized.  
4.2 It should be colorless to light yellow.   
4.3 It should have the natural physical properties of parsley oil.  
4.4 It should be free of impurities.  
4.5 It should be free of  heavy metals , water, alcohol , paraffin . 
 
5-  Specific Requirement  
5.1 The requirement of the parsley oil obtained by the whole plant : 
5.1.1  The relative density  at temperature 15oC is 0.948 – 0.967 . 
5.1.2  The refractive index  at temperature 20oC is between 1.5087 – 1.5159 .  
5.1.3  The optical rotation  should be -55 at 2oC to -10 at 6oC. 
5.1.4   The acid value  should not exceed 2. 
5.1.5   The ester value  should not exceed 8.9 . 
5.1.6   One volume  of essential  oil should melt in 10  volumes of  ethanol  (90% concentration ) 
and gives a clear  solution  at temperature 20oC.  
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 4 5.2 The requirement of the  parsley oil obtained by fruits : 
5.2.1 The relative density  at temperature 20oC is 1.043 – 1.083 .  
5.2.2 The refractive index  at temperature 20oC is between  1.513 – 1.522 . 
5.2.3 The optical rotation  at temperature 20oC should be between (−4o) to (−10o). 
5.2.4   The acid value  should not exceed 4. 
5.2.5   The ester value  should be between  1–10. 
5.2.6   One volume  of essential oil should melt in 4 – 6 volumes of  ethanol  (85% 
concentration) and gives a clear  solution  at temperature 20oC. 
5.3 Chromatographic Profile  
Analysis of the  essential oil shall be carried out by gas chromatography. In the 
chromatogram obtained, the representative and characteristic components  and its 
proportional  shown in Table (1) shall be identified.  
Table (1): chromatographic profile  
Component  Min %  Max %  
 – Pinene  01 22 
β- Pinene  7 05 
Myristicin  25 51 
Apiol 5 35 
1,2,3,4 – Tetramethoxy – 5 - Allylbenzene  0 02 
Elemicin 0 02 
NOTE: the chromatographic profile is normative, contrary to typical chromatograms 
given for information in annex A  
 
5.4 Flashpoint  
 Information on the flashpoint is given in annex B  
 
6-  Packaging, Transportation and Storage   
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in clause (2. 4), the 
following should be taken in consideration:  
6.1 Packaging:  
Oils should be packed in containers made from suitable, healthy materials and do not 
affect the properties and quality of the oils, and it should be         hermetically sealed  
and in conformity with the Gulf Standard mentioned in clause (2. 4)  
6.2  Transportation  
The transportation should be in means which protect the containers from damage and 
pollution . 
6.3 Storage  
The container should be kept in a cool place away from light and heat sources.   
 
7- Labeling  
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in clause s (2.1) and 
(2.5) , the following shall be declared on the label:  
7.1 Name of the product, address and its brand if  any. 
7.2 The phrase "Parsley oil" or "Essential fruit parsley oil".  
7.3 The net weight.  
7.4 Production and Expiry date  as mentioned in GSO standard in clause 2.3  
7.5  Country of origin  
 
8- Sampling   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 5 8.1 The sample should be taken according to the Gulf s tandard mentioned in clause s 2.6 
and 2.7  
8.2 Minimum volume of test sample: 25 ml  
NOTE:  This volume allows each of the tests specified in this standard to be carried out at 
least once  
 
9-   Testing Methods  
Tests shall be according to the GSO standards of examining and testing methods 
mentioned in clauses (2.8) ,(2.9), (2.10), (2.11) , (2.12), (2.13) , (2.14), (2.15) . 
   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 6  
ANNEX A  
(Informative)  
 
Typical Chromatograms of the analysis by gas chromatography of the essential 
oil of parsley fruits (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm ) 
 
Figure A -1: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
 
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 7  
 
 
Figure A -2: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
  
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 8 ANNEX B  
(Informative)  
FLASHPOINT  
 
B.1  General Information  
For safety reasons, transport companies, insurance companies, and people in charge of safety 
services require information on the flashpoints of essential oils, which in most cases are 
flammable products.  
A comparative study on the relevant methods  of analysis (see ISO/TR 110812) concluded that  
it was difficult to recomme nd a single apparatus for standardization purpose, given that:  
- There is wide variation in the chemical composition of essential oils  
- The volume of the sample needed for certain requirements would be too costly for 
high-priced essential oils.  
- As there are s everal different types of equipment which can be used for the 
determination, users cannot be expected to use one specified type only.  
Consequently, it was decided to give a mean value for the flashpoint in an informative annex 
in each gulf standard, for in formation, in order to meet the requirements of the interested 
parties.  
The equipment with which this value was obtained should be specified.  
For further information see ISO/TR 110182 
 
B.2 Flashpoint of oil of parsley fruits  
The mean value is +50oC 
NOTE: obtained with "Luchaire" equipment.