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Yesterday, the agreement on new novel food Regulation has been finalized by EU ministers. The new rules aim to improve conditions so that businesses can more easily bring new and innovative food to the EU market, while still maintaining a high level of food safety for European consumers.
It will offer European consumers the benefit of a broader choice of food and a more favourable environment for Europe's agri-food industry – the second largest employment sector in Europe – to benefit from innovation, which in turn is good for growth and jobs.
Novel food is defined as food that has not been consumed to any significant degree in the EU before May 1997 (when the first novel food legislation entered into force). This can be newly developed, innovative food or food produced using new technologies and production processes as well as food traditionally eaten outside of the EU.
Between 1997 and 2014, there have been around 170 applications for authorisation across the EU (7-10 applications/year). So far around 90 novel foods have been authorised for use. Authorised novel food includes products traditionally eaten in non-EU countries and food produced using the latest technological innovations.
The current rules date back almost 20 years. Since then, technological developments and scientific advice have evolved considerably. Therefore, to reduce the current length (3 and a half years on average) for the authorisation procedure, EU rules needed to be updated.
The new Regulation increases the efficiency of the authorisation procedure, enables a quicker delivery of safe, innovative food to market and removes unnecessary barriers to trade, whilst ensuring a high level of food safety.
It creates a centralised authorisation system, which will allow greater certainty for applicants seeking an authorisation for novel food and will simplify and speed up the authorisation process.
After agreement, the new Regulation has to be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council before its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Monday November 16, 2015/ EC/ European Union.
http://europa.eu/rapid
