Novel-foods

Definition
This section has been translated automatically.

Under current EU legislation, any food that hasnot been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the EU ("history of safe consumption") before 15 May 1997, irrespective of the date of accession of the Member States to the European Union, and that falls into at least one of the defined categories, is classified as a "novel liver product" (Article 3 of the Regulation).

The food business operator must verify whether the food to be placed on the market falls within the scope of the Regulation or not. In case of uncertainty, the competent authority of the Member State where the potentially novel food is first to be placed on the market must be consulted. Appropriate information must be provided for the determination of the status. For this purpose, procedural steps for the consultation as well as further requirements for the information to be provided have been laid down (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/456).

The general criteria for the definition of novel foods remain unchanged. These may include, but are not limited to, foods

With a new or deliberately modified molecular structure
from micro-organisms, fungi or algae
from materials of mineral origin
from plants or parts of plants
from animals or their parts
from cell or tissue cultures
produced by a novel and non-standard process
from engineered nanomaterials
which are vitamins, minerals and other substances which are considered to be non-novel exclusively in food supplements and are now to be used in other foodstuffs.

General information
This section has been translated automatically.

The term "novel foods" is not new. Throughout history, new types of food, food ingredients or ways of producing food have found their way to Europe from all parts of the world. Bananas, tomatoes, pasta, tropical fruits, corn, rice and a wide range of spices all originally came to Europe as novel foods. Recent newcomers include chia seeds, algae-based foods, baobab fruit and physalis.

Note(s)
This section has been translated automatically.

In 2018, the Novel Food Regulation ((EC) No 258/1997) was amended. Since 1 January 2018, the "new" Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on "Novel Foods" ("Novel Food") is in force and applicable with immediate effect.