New guide on novel food regulation

International food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS has produced a new guidance that will help food manufacturers apply the complicated novel food regulation.

Since its creation in 1997, the application of the regulation has proven difficult as companies are deterred by the lengthy, costly and unpredictable procedure.

However, the new report – the second in EAS’ ‘how to’ series – provides guidance on navigating this tricky legislative terrain.

“We saw a clear demand from small and medium size companies to have a document that explains this all in simple and down-to-earth language,” says Patrick Coppens, food law expert at EAS.

“This guide addresses the issues that we see in practice with this piece of legislation and the many questions companies have.”

The report covers topics such as:

- When and how to apply the novel foods procedure;

- Protecting data and confidentiality; and

- Guidance on the requirements for the justification of the safety of the novel food dossier.

The report also provides readers with an insight into the changes that are expected in the coming years with the ongoing revision of this legislation.

The guide is available from the EAS website as a PDF document.