European Parliament approves 'novel food' rules

(AGI) Strasbourg, Oct. 28 - Seeds, rapeseed proteins but alsoalgae and insects are perhaps the food of the future. OnWednesday, the European Parliament approved plans to make iteasier to get these so-called 'novel foods' approved. The goalof the revision to food regulations is to ensure food securityand to protect public health while encouraging innovation.Novel foods have been defined as foods that were not used forhuman consumption before May 1997. Since then, various newfoods and food ingredients have been developed, which are nowdefined as novel foods. Also, traditional food consumed outsidethe EU is classified as such. Examples of novel foods are foodsbased on micro-organisms, fungi or algae, or animals such asinsects, but also those that contain synthetic nanomaterials.Novel foods approved this year include dairy products treatedwith enzymes, flavonoids derived from licorice and oil from theseeds of Buglossoides arvensis (Pearl Grass). The European FoodSafety Authority will make an assessment in cases where newfood has an effect on human health. As requested by MEPs, theproposed rules would also cover food from cloned animals untilspecific legislation on cloning is adopted, as well as a newdefinition of nanomaterials and restrictions on animaltesting..