European Regulation on Novel Foods– The new Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 It came into force on 1 January. Until the end of 2017, a different legal framework was in place. The Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients. And the Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001, which lays down rules on the disclosure of certain information and the protection of other data.
This new regulatory framework is intended to improve the conditions for companies in the food sector to introduce innovative foods and ingredients into the EU. Naturally, this is whilst maintaining a high level of safety for end consumers.
Updates to the European Novel Foods Regulation
The Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 It introduces a number of changes regarding the introduction of new foods and ingredients onto the European Union market.
- Extension of the definition of ‘novel food’. Due to the new definition of Novel Foods, many products that were already on the market could now fall within this category. A good example is nanomaterials, which did not exist in 1997 – the date of publication of the previous Regulation – and were therefore not regulated by the old legislation.
- Authorisations for Novel Foods. Under the previous regulations, authorisations to place novel foods on the market were granted on a restricted and specific basis. However, under the new Regulation, authorisations are now generic. This means that any food business operator may place an authorised novel food on the market in the EU. However, it is essential that they comply with the conditions of use, labelling requirements and authorised specifications.
- Safety assessment and authorisation procedure. The new Regulation makes it possible to reduce the total time spent on approvals, thereby increasing efficiency, whilst ensuring greater transparency regarding deadlines.
- Simplified authorisation. To obtain authorisation, applications can be submitted online to the European Commission. The Commission will forward them to EFSA, the food safety agency, which will be responsible for assessing the safety of the novel foods And, on the basis of the findings of its report, the Commission will decide whether or not to authorise its placing on the market within the Common Market.
- Faster notification of traditional foods from third countries. A simplified procedure for notifying foods that are traditionally consumed outside the EU but which the EU considers to be novel foods. However, there must be evidence of a history of consumption in the third country.
European list of authorised novel foods
As well as the new Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 With regard to novel foods, further legislation has been adopted to establish a European list of novel foods. This is the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. It sets out the Union list of novel foods, in accordance with the European Novel Foods Regulation, relating to “novel foods”.
This is a positive list, which means that all novel foods published on it may automatically be placed on the market throughout the European Union. For further information on how the new European Novel Food Regulation affects the food sector, please do not hesitate to contact us.