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May 10, 2015

European Parliament Approves Novel Foods Proposal

Lynn L. BergesonCarla N. Hutton

On October 28, 2015, the European Parliament (EP) approved proposed rules that would subject novel foods to a safety evaluation and authorization at the European Union (EU) level.  According to the EP’s October 28, 2015, press release, novel foods include food consisting of “engineered nanomaterials,” and would be defined as “any intentionally produced material that has one or more dimensions of the order of 100 nm or less.”  If there is a possibility a new food could affect people’s health, then the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) would have to carry out an assessment.  The proposed rules must still be approved by the Council of Ministers.