On Thursday 16 January, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment rejected an EPP and ECR objection to the European Commission’s draft implementing decision authorising the placing on the market of UV-treated powder of whole larvae of the Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) as a novel food (see EUROPE 13193/33).
The EPP and ECR resolution against this implementing act was supported by 32 MEPs and rejected by 39 (6 abstentions). Alexander Bernhuber (EPP, Austrian) raised the problem of allergic reactions and the presence of large quantities of vitamin D3, which could be harmful to health. Laurence Trochu (ECR, French) felt that the authorisation left unanswered questions and that the precautionary principle should be applied, since this product would end up in various foods (cakes, cheeses, etc.).
Ana Vasconcelos (Renew Europe, Portuguese), who was against the objection, felt that there were no grounds for opposing the authorisation, as did Rasmus Nordqvist (Greens/EFA, Danish). Dried Tenebrio molitor larvae are already authorised by the EU as a novel food (https://aeur.eu/f/f2h ).
Link to the resolution (objection) by the EPP and ECR groups: https://aeur.eu/f/f2g (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)