Philippines’ Pili nuts (Canarium ovatum) are now authorized to be placed in the EU markets as a traditional food from a third country and shall be included in the Union list of novel foods, the Department of Trade and Industry announced.
The Regulations Commission issued Implementing Regulation 2023/267 on Feb. 8, 2023 amending Regulation 2017/2470 on novel foods from a third country.
The inclusion of Pili nuts in the EU list of novel foods stemmed from an application by DOMENICODELUCIA SPA to the Commission on March 28, 2019 of their request to place nuts of Canarium ovatum on the Union market as a traditional food from a third country in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
The applicant requested for dried nuts of Canarium ovatum to be consumed as such by the general population. The company’s notification complies with the requirements laid down in Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
In particular, the EU said that the data presented by the applicant demonstrate that dried nuts of Canarium ovatum have a history of safe food use in the Philippines. The application was then forwarded to member starts and the European Food Safety Authority. There was no safety objection to the placing on the market within the Union of the food concerned.
With the approval of Pili nuts as traditional food from a third country, the EU has updated the list of novel foods accordingly.
In its report, the EU food authority also noted on the basis of limited published evidence on food allergy related to nuts of Canarium ovatum, that allergic reactions may be expected after the consumption of nuts of Canarium ovatum.
In particular, studies showed an in vitro cross-reactivity of nuts of Canarium ovatum to cashew and walnut.
Pili is a fruit-bearing tree endemic in the Bicol Region in the country. It is a low-maintenance crop, but de-shelling of the Pili nut is a legend in itself. De-shelling is done using a local bolo and wooden board.
The Pili Nut kernel itself has the flavor of pumpkin seed when raw, and takes on an entirely different identity when roasted.
Notably, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) signed in 2018 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development and protection of Geographical Indication (GI) covering agricultural products in the country.
Bicol pili nut, Davao pomelo, and Guimaras mango, among others were identified for GI registration.
Geographical Indication refers to signs used to identify a product with a given quality, reputation or characteristics that is distinctively attributable to its geographical origin. A product with a GI registration prevents its unauthorized use, provides financial gain to its producers, and serves as a legal protection in other World Trade Organization countries.
Under the MOU, DA will identify the potential GI products, capacity building of GI groups, and crafting of Code of Practice which will ensure that rules relative to identification are observed and enforced among their members.
The IPOPHL, for their part, will take charge of providing training and workshops for DA technical personnel relative to the intellectual property component of GI and other legal framework.