In the European Union, Novel Foods are officially listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, which establishes the Union list of novel foods, a positive list containing all authorized Novel Foods permitted for placement on the EU market under the current regulation. For a food to be included in this list, it must successfully complete the European Commission’s authorization procedure, which rigorously evaluates its safety and compliance. It is crucial to consult the latest version of the Union list, as the regulation is regularly updated whenever a new Novel Food receives authorization. This ensures that only approved, safe, and compliant products are available to consumers across the EU.

To determine whether a food or food ingredient can access the European market, the most straightforward approach is to consult the Union list of novel foods and verify if it is already included in the latest version of the list, available here. First, check if the product falls under the definitions outlined in Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (link). Next, review the Novel Food status catalogue of the European Commission (link) to see if the product is already under assessment or has been previously evaluated. If uncertainties remain, it is advisable to contact the competent authority of the relevant EU Member State for further clarification (list of authorities).

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