EU finalizes guidance on novel, traditional food from third countries

The European Union (EU) on Thursday published two guidance documents on novel and traditional food from third countries (non-EU countries) to help ensure these foods are safe before risk managers decide whether they can be marketed in Europe.

The European Food Safety Authority developed the guidance after the new European regulation on novel food was adopted in November 2015. The guidance documents explain in detail the kind of information applicants need to provide for risk assessment.

As for novel food, applicants need to present dossiers about the product, including data on the nutritional, toxicological and allergenic properties, information about the production process, and the proposed uses and use levels.

Meanwhile, according to the guidance documents, applicants submitting traditional food applications need to provide evidence of safe use of the product in as least one non-EU country for a period of at least 25 years.

Novel food is food that European citizens have not consumed to a significant degree prior to May 1997, while traditional food is a subset of novel food which relates to food traditionally consumed in countries outside of the EU. Enditem