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Regulated products consultation

Applications for six novel foods

Consultation seeking stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to regulated product applications for six novel foods (NFs), which have been submitted for authorisation.

Last updated: 17 May 2022
Last updated: 17 May 2022

 

Important

This consultation references applications now made to England, Scotland and Wales, for products where an application was evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) prior to the end of the transition period.

In addition to this consultation, we have also published a joint Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) scientific opinions document, relating to the relevant six NFs, after the organisations carried out a quality assurance review of EFSA's risk assessments.

 Summary of responses

A summary of stakeholder responses to the consultation on applications for six novel foods (accessible version)

Scientific opinions

Update on 31 March 2022: The FSA and FSS opinions document has been revised following the end of the consultation period. Read the full explanation on the Revisions to the FSA/FSS opinions on five novel foods authorisation applications page and the revised opinions document has been updated above. 

Update on 21 January 2022: Due to a minor error related to 3’-Sialyllactose (3’-SL) sodium salt (RP 8), the proposed maximum use levels in Table 1 on pages 5 and 6 of the opinion document have been updated for:

  • flavoured fermented milk-based products including heat-treated products (products other than beverages) from 0.5 g/kg to 2.5 g/kg
  • unflavoured fermented milk-based products (products other than beverages) from 2.5 g/kg to 0.5 g/kg
We welcome comments on these scientific opinions, separately to responses to the consultation. Any comments provided on the FSA and FSS opinions will be published and considered for inclusion in our final Ministerial advice. Please send comments, clearly marked as relating to these scientific opinions, to: FSS%20opinion%20">RPconsultations@food.gov.uk.

Who will this consultation be of most interest to?

  • Manufacturers of infant and follow-on-formula and other food businesses wishing to use the novel foods (NFs) in the proposed use categories, such as food supplement manufacturers and distributors
  • Enforcement Authorities, including Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities and District Councils 
  • Consumers of end use products including consumer groups concerned with infant formula and follow-on-formula and parents/carers of infants

Consultation subject

Six NFs have been submitted for authorisation in each nation of Great Britain (GB), where the decision on authorisation is made by the respective Ministers in England, Scotland and Wales. This is a function that was previously carried out at an EU level. Since the end of the transition period, assessing food and animal feed safety in the UK is the responsibility of FSA/FSS and the authorisation of NFs is the responsibility of the relevant appropriate authority of each of the nations of GB.

The finalised FSA/FSS opinions, and the views gathered through this consultation, will be considered and included alongside those of Officials of the Devolved Governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and UK Government Departments other than the FSA to inform Ministers’ decision making on whether to authorise the individual NFs for use in England, Scotland and Wales.

Purpose of the consultation

To seek stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to the NFs, which have been submitted for authorisation. We ask stakeholders to consider any relevant provisions of retained EU law and other legitimate factors (other evidence further supporting clear, rational and justifiable risk analysis, such as consumer interests, technical feasibility and environmental factors) related to these applications. This is stakeholders’ opportunity for input on the advice given to Ministers to inform decision making.

Consultation pack

Publication of response summary

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

You can find information on how we handle data provided in response to consultations in our Consultations privacy notice.

Further information

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with HM Government Consultation Principles. If an Impact Assessment has been produced, this is included in the consultation documents. If no Impact Assessment has been provided, the reason will be given in the consultation document.