portal. This can either be the
manufacturer itself or a trade body or
other representative.
The European Food Standards
Authority (EFSA) will conduct a risk
assessment and offer its opinion
within nine months if no further
information is required. Once the
EFSA publishes a positive opinion, the
EC has seven months to draft an act
authorising the placing of the novel
food product on the market.
How will the regulation
be enforced?
Local authorities are responsible for
enforcing food law, so it remains to
be seen what action will be taken by
Trading Standards against companies
selling non-compliant products after
the application deadline.
An authorisation applies to products
made with the same production
methods for the same uses using the
same evidence base. However, an
authorised product can be branded in
different ways, so it can, for example,
be white labelled by other companies.
But variations of the fi nished product
must be authorised and used in the
same way.
How much will this set
my business back?
This will depend on the intended
use of a product and whether or not
the EFSA requests any animal or
toxicology studies. Cost estimates
range from £30,000 to £200,000 for
a single application.
When is the deadline?
Businesses are required to submit fully
a validated application by March 31,
2021. Only products that have followed
this procedure will be allowed to
remain on the market after this date.
Businesses are permitted to continue
to sell non-approved products in the
meantime.
This applies to England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. Novel foods in
Scotland are regulated by Food
Standards Scotland.
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