The European Commission has appointed EFSA to update the guidance on novel food applications. The changes will apply to all applications submitted from February 2025.
In addition to details on the description and identification of the novel food, information on the expected consumption, history of use and safety data such as nutritional facts and potential allergens must also be provided.
The revised guidance aims to simplify application procedures thanks to clearer guidelines and to reduce the possibility of missing information. The evaluation processes have a deadline of nine months, but will be interrupted if any information is missing. It has to be clarified whether updating the guidelines can speed up evaluation processes soon, as consumer safety is the top priority.
Further information can be found on the EFSA website.
