European Parliament votes in favor of food innovation

The European Parliament, meeting for a plenary session in Strasbourg, voted Wednesday in favor of the application of a new procedure for the authorization and evaluation of "novel foods" originating from scientific and technological research.

Following its debate, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a text aiming to revise and update legislation from 1997 concerning what are commonly known as "novel foods".

This category specifically designates foods and ingredients which posses a new or deliberately modified primary molecular structure, which are composed of microorganisms, fungi or algae, or which result from a production byproduct not currently in use.

The text, adopted Wednesday by the Parliament with 359 votes in favor, 202 against, 127 abstentions, and which aims to simplify the steps necessary for the authorization for these products, will still need to be adopted by the member states of the European Union (EU).

MEPs underlined the need to encourage food innovation, while also respecting security norms. The appearance in the European food market of a whole new series of food products, including insects, fungi, and algae, but even more so of foods created from new technologies and new processes have made it imperative to create new legislation, insisted MEPs.

The sale of novel foods in the European market depends on a preliminary authorization system, with a national evaluation by the member states' health authorities and potential community arbitration, following the advice of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

This method aims to assure the security of the consumer regarding potential toxicity of the product and possible side effects brought about by its introduction into the diet.

The novel food category also includes food products traditionally consumed outside the EU and which are the object of increasing demand in Europe. The EFSA is charged with assessing the risk represented by the consumption of these products by unaccustomed populations.

MEPs also requested that the proposed rules cover foods derived from cloned animals until specific legislation on the issue is adopted, along with a new definition of nanomaterials and restrictions on animal testing.

Beyond health, toxicology and environmental stakes, novel foods are at the heart of considerable economic interests.

The appearance of new food trends in a European population focused on the principle of precaution put the food-processing industry in a delicate position.

With a recent World Health Organization study on health risks posed by meat consumption, and a report by Foodwatch on food packaging, accusations against the food-processing industry have multiplied over the last few days, providing a context which should drive the reinforcement of regulatory legislation throughout the food industry. Endit