2015-10 Novel Foods: EU Specialty Food Ingredients welcomes Council approval of the compromise text

As the sector at the forefront of food innovation, the specialty food ingredient industry requires a clear, efficient and well-functioning regulatory framework that stimulates research and development, and ensures continued consumer confidence in food.

Efforts to update and clarify existing rules have now been continuing for seven years. EU Specialty Food Ingredients considers that the proposal before the European Parliament does not necessarily provide an ideal framework for novel foods. Nevertheless, by centralising the authorisation procedure and clarifying certain aspects of the authorisation process, this proposal does address many of the recognised flaws in the existing rules.

Further delay in the adoption of this legislation would have simply perpetuated existing problems and extended uncertainty and confusion for food businesses. We are therefore pleased that the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee approved on 11 November the extensively negotiated compromises that had been broadly carried by Parliament. The Council is expected to formally adopt the new regulation on 16 November before it is published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will enter into force 20 days after its publication and will be applicable two years later.