The EU Novel Food Catalogue has clarified the novel food status of various pomegranate (Punica granatum) ingredients, highlighting that regulatory requirements depend on the plant part used and the intended food application. Pomegranate fruit is considered not novel for general food use, while the pericarp (peel), flower, seed, and pomegranate extract standardized to 40% punicalagins are recognized as not novel when used in food supplements due to evidence of consumption before 15 May 1997.
However, the same 40% punicalagin extract may be considered novel when used in conventional foods outside the food supplement category and could require pre-market authorization under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. In contrast, pomegranate seed oil remains classified as a Novel Food, requiring authorization before being placed on the EU market. The clarification underscores the importance of assessing both ingredient form and intended use when determining Novel Food compliance in the European Union
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