definition novel foods

Novel foods are foodstuffs or food ingredients which have not been used for human consumption to a in significant degree in the European community for human consumption before 15 May 1997 and which fall under the following categories:

• foodstuffs and food ingredients with a new or intentionally modified primary molecular structure;
• foodstuffs and food ingredients consisting of or isolated from micro-organisms, fungi or algae;
• foodstuffs and food ingredients consisting of or isolated from plants and food ingredients isolated from animals, except for foodstuffs and food ingredients obtained by traditional propagating or breeding practices and having a history of safe food use;
• foodstuffs and food ingredients to which has been applied a production process not currently used, where that process gives rise to significant changes in the composition or structure of the foods or food ingredients which affect their nutritional value, their metabolism or their level of undesirable substances.

Products used as additives or flavourings in foodstuffs, or as an extraction solvent in the production, are not considered novel foods. Foodstuffs consisting of or produced with genetically modified organisms were originally included in the Novel Foods Regulation, but since September 2003, a separate regulation applies (1829/2003/EC).

all 2012 2011 2010 2009