Novel foods are essentially ingredients that haven’t been widely consumed in the UK or the EU before 15 May 1997. These can include new types of food, ingredients sourced from other regions, or food created through innovative processes. The key regulatory focus is on ensuring that these foods are safe for public consumption, do not mislead consumers, and offer no nutritional disadvantage compared to traditional foods.
Including Novel Food Ingredients in UK Food Supplements
When it comes to incorporating novel food ingredients into food supplements in the UK, the following regulations and guidelines must be adhered to:
1. Authorisation Is Mandatory: Before a novel food ingredient can be included in a food supplement, it must receive authorisation from the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA). This process ensures that the novel ingredient is thoroughly evaluated for safety and other regulatory standards. Without this authorisation, the ingredient cannot be legally included in any food product sold in the UK.
2. Submitting an Application: Businesses need to submit a detailed application to the FSA for any novel food ingredient they plan to use. The application must contain comprehensive information about the ingredient, including its safety profile, nutritional data, and intended usage. The assessment process can be lengthy, potentially taking up to 17 months depending on the complexity of the information provided and the need for any additional data.
3. Compliance with Authorised Conditions: Once a novel food ingredient is authorised, it must be used in line with the specific conditions outlined in the approval. These conditions may limit the amount that can be included in a food supplement, dictate specific labeling requirements, or impose other restrictions to safeguard consumer health.
4. Data Protection Rules: In some instances, data protection measures are applied. This means that only the company that submitted the novel food application may use the ingredient for a specified period. This provision helps protect the investment of businesses that have undergone the rigorous process of gaining authorisation.
5. Proper Labelling: Any food supplement containing a novel food ingredient must be labeled correctly. The labelling must clearly inform consumers of the novel nature of the ingredient, and it must adhere to any specific labelling requirements set forth in the authorisation.
These steps ensure that novel food ingredients in food supplements meet the UK’s strict safety and regulatory standards, providing confidence for both businesses and consumers in the quality and safety of the products on the market.
For more detailed guidance on the regulatory process, visit the FSA’s official page on novel foods - https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/novel-foods.
How Do You Know if an Ingredient is a Novel Food?
The UK novel food register officially succeeded the EU one following Brexit on 1 January 2021. This change marked the point when the UK began managing its own novel food regulatory framework independently of the European Union. This transition means that for Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), novel foods must be authorised by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) before being marketed.
The UK Food Standard Agency guidelines are that unless a contrary statement is listed, any decisions on the novel food status of a food made by the EU before the 1st of January 2021 still apply in GB. EU decisions following this date do not apply in GB and instead novel food status is dictated by the UK novel food register.
For Northern Ireland, due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU food law continues to apply, meaning that novel foods in Northern Ireland still follow EU regulations and authorisations.
UK Food Standards Agency's novel food register - https://data.food.gov.uk/regulated-products/novel_authorisations
EU Novel Food Catalogue - https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/novel-food-catalogue/search