Brussels, 19/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is preparing guidance on applications for the authorisation of novel foods in the EU, to facilitate application of new rules for novel foods since the adoption in November 2015 of updated Novel Food Regulation (see EUROPE 11433).
In order to garner as many contributions as possible to its work, the EFSA launched a public consultation on Thursday 18 February on the guidance it will be drawing up to help operators wishing to lodge an authorisation request for the marketing of novel foods or the legal import for foods considered 'new' to the European market but which are traditional foodstuffs in countries outside the EU.
The consultation will cover two draft guidance documents in the area of novel foods. The first document specifies the requirements applicants need to meet when submitting applications for the authorisation of novel foods. The second document concerns the information applicants need to provide to demonstrate the history of safe use of traditional foods from third countries.
Interested parties are invited to submit their comments in writing by 21 April 2016.
The new EU rules update and replace Regulation 258/97/EC on novel foods and novel food ingredients (known as the Novel Food Regulation). They establish a single centralised authorisation procedure and facilitate the marketing of novel foods in the EU (derived from biotechnology that have passed a risk assessment by the EFSA) and traditional foods from non-EU countries, as long as their safety is demonstrated. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)