14/01/2008
CIAA Statement on proposed Novel Food Regulation

CIAA welcomed the European Commission’s intention to amend the existing European rules governing novel foods (Regulation 97/258/EC), which cover all new foods without a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 1997

Novel foods include noni juice and products with ingredients such as phytosterols which help lower cholesterol.

CIAA believes the review needs to address the following issues, among others:

• The uncompetitive amount of time necessary to go through European approval procedures
• Procedural uncertainty (when will the product be placed on the market)
• Uncertain return on investment (current rules mean that once a product is approved competitors can quickly enter the market with imitation products)
• Uncertainty as to the legal status of products with regard to deciding whether they are deemed traditional or must be subject to a novel food approval prior their use

To this end, CIAA, together with the Platform for Ingredients in Europe (PIE), commissioned UK economist Graham Brookes to undertake an extensive study with leading European food and drink ingredients companies. His report confirms what most in the food industry have always known: food innovation in Europe is not possible without a fundamental reform of current procedures.

CIAA is currently analysing the European Commission’s proposal for a revised Regulation on Novel Foods and Novel Foods Ingredients, which was published on 14 January 2008.

Download the full position in English