Novel food

When placing a food supplement on the market, it is also necessary to consider whether the food supplement contains ingredients of a new type (so-called novel food).

According to Regulation (EU) No. 2283/2015 (Novel Food Regulation), novel food is defined as any food that was not used for human consumption to a significant degree in the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the "EU") before May 15, 1997. Within the meaning of the Novel Food Regulation, only novel foods that have been authorized and included in the Union list established by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 may be placed on the market in the EU.

Food business operators are required to verify whether a food they intend to place on the EU market falls within the scope of the Novel Food Regulation, i.e. to determine its status. If a food business operator is unsure about the status of a food, they should consult the EU Member State in which they intend to place the food on the market for the first time.

More information about novel food is available on the website Nové potraviny | MZe.