France

The French Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) has published guidelines for the safe use of essential oils in food supplements. These guidelines include a list of plants containing essential oils that can be used for human consumption. Two additional lists of plants are added containing essential oils that are not permitted in food supplements.

The list with permitted essential oils has no legal force. In addition, the list is not exhaustive. Any essential oil derived from plants that is not included in the list yet, can be added through demonstration of their traditional use for human consumption. For this, relevant data should be collected from the literature and sent to the 4A office of the DGCCRF. Of note, if an essential oil is included in the positive list, it is still possible that additional precautions should be taken for its safe use. These recommendations are listed in an additional guidance document provided by the Directorate-General.

More information can be found here.

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