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The latest on EU AGRI-Food policies impacting low- and middle-income countries

2025/1528

Novel food: Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil

  • Novel/traditional foods

Summary

The European Union (EU) has authorised Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food, to be used as an oil for cooking or as a seasoning, and as an ingredient in several foods.

EU authorises Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1528 of 30 July 2025 authorising the placing on the market of Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470

Update

The European Union (EU) has authorised Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food, to be used as an oil for cooking or as a seasoning, and as an ingredient in several foods.

Impacted Products

Pasta-based products, bread and rolls, snacks other than chips (crackers), fats, fine bakery, milk-based products

What is changing?

The EU has authorised Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil to be marketed in the EU as a novel food, to be used as an oil for cooking or as a seasoning, and as an ingredient in several food categories: pasta-based products, bread and rolls, snacks other than chips (crackers), fats, fine bakery, and milk-based products.

The maximum levels for tiger nut oil used as an ingredient (ranging from 30 to 60 ml per 100 g), and labelling requirements, are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Why?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that this novel food is safe for the general population under the proposed conditions of use, meaning that there are no specific limitations for foods targeted at children.

Timeline

Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil can be marketed in the EU as a novel food from 19 August 2025.

Background

This Regulation updates the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, which lists authorised novel foods (see the Union list of novel foods). For further information on the EU novel foods authorisation process, see Novel foods explained.

Resources

EFSA (2024) Safety of Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) oil as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal, 11: e9102.

Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods

Sources

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1528 authorising the placing on the market of Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.

EU authorises Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1528 authorising the placing on the market of Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil as a novel food

What is changing and why?

The European Union (EU) has authorised Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil to be marketed in the EU as a novel food to be used as an oil for cooking or as a seasoning, and as an ingredient in several food categories for the general population. The maximum levels for use of tiger nut oil as an ingredient (ranging from 30 to 60 ml per 100 g), and labelling requirements, are set out in the Annex to this Regulation. The European Food Safety Authority has concluded that the novel food is a safe for the general population under the proposed conditions of use.

Timeline

Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) oil can be marketed in the EU as a novel food from 19 August 2025.

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.