Request consultation procedure for novel foods
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIn the European Union (EU), foodstuffs may generally be placed on the market without prior authorization. Novel foods are an exception to this rule. These must first undergo a health assessment and be approved before being placed on the market.
If you are unsure whether your food is to be classified as a novel food, you can consult the competent authority of the EU Member State in which you intend to place the food on the market first. In Germany, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) is responsible.
With your application to initiate such a consultation procedure, the BVL requires documents and information from you which, among other things, show the production, composition and intended use of your food. In your application, you can request confidential treatment of the food information you have submitted if its disclosure could harm your competitive position.
Please note that your application to the BVL alone initiates the consultation procedure in which the BVL assesses whether your food is to be classified as a novel food. You must apply separately to the European Commission for the actual authorization to place a novel food on the market.
In order to determine the novel food status, the BVL consults the food control authorities of the federal states and exchanges information with the authorities of other EU member states and the European Commission. If you submit your application documents in English, this will speed up the procedure as they no longer need to be translated before being forwarded to the European Commission and the EU Member States.