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Novel food dossiers (EU/GB)

Novel foods and ingredients require authorisation prior to use in Europe, Great Britain and many markets around the world. Let Leatherhead Food Research’s dossier experts support you throughout the application process.

What is a novel food or ingredient?

Novel food is any food or food ingredient that ‘had not been consumed to a significant degree by humans in the EU before 15 May 1997’. This means that a food or ingredient that is commonly eaten outside of the EU may still be classified as ‘novel’ and need approval before sale. This also applies to extracts from foods (such as botanical extracts) or food manufactured from new production technologies.

Learn more about Leatherhead's pre-market dossier service

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Talk to our experts about your novel food approval dossier

How to gain pre-market approval in Europe

To gain approval for a novel food or ingredient in Europe or Great Britain, a dossier that contains supporting scientific evidence is submitted to the European Commission (EC) or the Food Standards Agency through their novel food application procedure. This application is then reviewed by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) or the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes ACNFP of Great Britain, the result being either authorisation, refusal or request more information.

How Leatherhead can help

Our team of regulatory experts and scientists are experienced in compiling and submitting novel food application dossiers to authorities. Over the years, Leatherhead’s regulatory team has developed strong links with government authorities in major markets around the world and can therefore, very quickly and independently, contact them or answer any of their queries on pre-market approval dossiers.

How can we help?