This open access book proposes an in-depth study on a vast range of issues connected to the regulation of Novel Foods in the European Union, pursuing an interdisciplinary approach and thus providing a comprehensive picture of this complex topic. Particular attention is paid not only to the current EU legislative framework, its positive innovations, unsolved problems and limits, but also to food safety issues and the potential impact of Novel Foods on sustainability and food security. In addition, the book focuses on a particular category of Novel Foods: insects for human consumption. These products recently gained momentum after the first EU Commission authorisation of dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) in 2021. The book contributes to the lively public debate following this long-awaited authorisation by examining the legal issues arising from the application of the Novel Foods Regulation to these peculiar new foods; the EFSA risk assessment evaluations; the consumers’ perceptions and potential future of insect-based products’ market in the EU. By providing such an extensive analysis, including recent developments and future prospects, the book represents a valuable tool for students and academics, but also institutions and public authorities, helping them understanding the various challenges related to Novel Foods and edible insects. Furthermore, it seeks to promote an informed debate in order to find innovative solutions to pressing problems concerning how to feed the world of tomorrow.

This open access book proposes an in-depth study on a vast range of issues connected to the regulation of Novel Foods in the European Union, pursuing an interdisciplinary approach and thus providing a comprehensive picture of this complex topic. Particular attention is paid not only to the current EU legislative framework, its positive innovations, unsolved problems and limits, but also to food safety issues and the potential impact of Novel Foods on sustainability and food security. In addition, the book focuses on a particular category of Novel Foods: insects for human consumption. These products recently gained momentum after the first EU Commission authorisation of dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) in 2021. The book contributes to the lively public debate following this long-awaited authorisation by examining the legal issues arising from the application of the Novel Foods Regulation to these peculiar new foods; the EFSA risk assessment evaluations; the consumers’ perceptions and potential future of insect-based products’ market in the EU. By providing such an extensive analysis, including recent developments and future prospects, the book represents a valuable tool for students and academics, but also institutions and public authorities, helping them understanding the various challenges related to Novel Foods and edible insects. Furthermore, it seeks to promote an informed debate in order to find innovative solutions to pressing problems concerning how to feed the world of tomorrow.

This Brief describes in three concise chapters one of the newest ‘hot topics’ under EU Food Law and Policy: the new Regulation (EU) No 2015/2283 from the European Parliament and by the Council, November 25, 2015, on novel foods, applicable from January 2018. In this work, the Authors discuss the long-time criticized EU Regulation on novel foods ((EC) No 258/1997) and how it has been significantly altered by the adoption of the new regulation. In the first chapter, the Authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the genesis of the new Regulation, its rationale and the policy’s goals. In particular, they describe what food business operators shall do in order to get a new product allowed on the EU market, providing updated information on the regulatory developments from the European Food Safety Authority in nanofoods, cloned animals and insect foods. The role of the European Food Safety Authority is also discussed. The second Chapter summarizes the current toxicological studies used to evaluate novel foods safety, which are an extremely important pillar when speaking of food safety and commercial introduction of new products. Finally, the third Chapter discusses the ‘history of safe use’ approach to the problem of novel foods, and factors such as consumption period analysis, preparation advices and processes, intake levels, nutritional composition, and results of animal studies. Food lawyers, professionals and auditors working in the area of official inspections, quality assurance, food traceability, and international regulation, both in academia and industry, will find this Brief an important account.

​Forecasts point out an exponential growth in the global population, which raises concerns over the ability of the current agri-food production systems to meet food demand in the long term. Such a prospect has led international organizations and the scientific community to raise awareness about, and call for, the need to identify additional sources of food to feed the world. From this perspective, insects qualify as a suitable and more environmentally friendly alternative to meat and other foods that are sourced from animal proteins. However, uptake of the production and commercialization of insects as food has been facing regulatory hurdles, consumer skepticism and rejection in many markets. This is particularly true in the context of western societies in which insects do not always constitute part of the local traditional diets. Production and Commercialization of Insects as Food and Feed: identification of the Main Constraints in the European Union analyses and discusses the regulatory state-of-the-art for the production and commercialization of insects as food and feed in the European Union. The EU has been taking concrete legislative steps with a view to opening up its market for insect foods, although some key regulatory constraints still exist today which ultimately prevent the industry sector from growing, consolidating and thriving. The main regulatory constraints in the EU for insects as food include the fragmentation of the EU market as a result of the adoption of different policy solutions by EU Member States for novel foods and the lengthy and complex authorization procedures. Also, ad hoc safety and quality requirements tailored to the needs and specificities of the insect food sector are currently missing. This work constitutes the first comprehensive overview of the evolution and current state-of-the-art of the regulatory framework for insect foods in the EU, based on a multidisciplinary approach that combines science, policy and law. It proposes a legislative roadmap which the EU should follow in order to make its regulatory framework fit for insect foods in the long term by providing a detailed comparison between the current EU legal framework and other regulatory systems of western countries with a view to singling out the markets which are better equipped to address the production and the commercialization of insect foods. The text provides an updated overview of the overall market and of European consumers’ perspectives on the use of insect foods. With the proper legislative steps and consolidation, the EU can be a global leader for insects as food and feed both as a market and as a standard-setting body.

Also available as E-book see insects-as-food-feed-from-production-to-consumption For more information about the e-book, please contact Sales. Insects have a high potential of becoming a new sector in the food and feed industry, mainly because of the many environmental benefits when compared to meat production. This will be outlined in the book, as well as the whole process from rearing to marketing. Detailed photograph are shown at the start of each section and chapter."

While insect consumption by humans or entomophagy has been traditionally practiced in various countries over generations and represents a common dietary component of various animal species (birds, fish, mammals), farming of insects for human food and animal feed is relatively recent. Production of this ‘mini-livestock’ brings with it several potential benefits and challenges. The objective of this document is to provide the reader with an overview of the various food safety issues that could be associated with edible insects. The intended audiences of this publication are food safety professionals, policymakers, researchers, insect producers as well as consumers. The regulatory frameworks that govern production, trade and consumption of insects in various regions are discussed. The document ends with elucidating some other major challenges, such as consumer acceptance and scaling up production, that the edible insect industry would need to overcome to have a more global reach.

There is global interest in using insects as food and feed. However, before insects can be recommended as a type of nourishment to augment more traditional and widely accepted sources of food and feed, it is essential that in-depth research involving a variety of subjects is carried out. We can learn from societies in which insects are still a component of the local diet which species are preferred and how they are prepared for human consumption. We need information on the chemical composition of edible insects and have to make sure we know what kinds of micro-organisms and pathogens they contain. Legal questions in relation to the sale and breeding of certain species need to be addressed, and medicinal aspects of edible insects and their products should be examined. How best to market selected species and make them palatable to a clientele that more than often rejects the idea of insects in the diet are further important aspects in need of study. This book deals with these questions in 19 articles written by experts from at least 20 different countries that represent a range of disciplines. As such, it is a useful tome for a wide range of food researchers.