Latest novel food authorisations – January 2025

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/89 of 20 January 2025 authorising the placing on the market of UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/97 of 21 January 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 as regards the conditions of use and the specifications of the novel food isomalto-oligosaccharide

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/153 of 29 January 2025 authorising the placing on the market of Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants as novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470

Update

The European Union (EU) has authorised the marketing of two new novel foods – Tenebrio molitor larvae powder, and Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants. It has also extended the use of the novel food isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO) to a wider range of products.

Impacted Products

Ice cream and dairy desserts, instant coffee and tea, table-top sweeteners, cakes, muffins, pies, pastries, breakfast cereals, condiments/relishes, gravies and sauces, gelatines, puddings, fillings, jams and jellies, yoghurts, milk-based drinks, snack foods, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups, food supplements, bread and rolls, pasta-based products, processed potato products, cheese and cheese products, fruit and vegetable compotes

What is changing?

The EU has authorised the marketing of the following novel foods:

• UV-treated powder obtained from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae
• Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants.

The EU has also extended the permitted uses of IMO to include ice cream and dairy desserts, instant coffee and tea, table-top sweeteners, cakes, muffins, pies, pastries, breakfast cereals, condiments/relishes, gravies and sauces, gelatines, puddings, fillings, jams and jellies, yoghurts, milk-based drinks, snack foods, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups, and food supplements for the general population older than 10 years. IMO was previously authorised as a novel food in a range of foods including cereal bars and biscuits (Regulation 2018/1023).

Detailed specifications (chemical identity, heavy metal limits, microbiological criteria) are set out in the Annexes to the respective Regulations.

These novel foods will be included in the Union list of novel foods (Regulation 2017/2470).

Why?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated and confirmed the safety of Tenebrio molitor larvae (EFSA 2023), Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants (EFSA 2022, 2024a), and IMO (EFSA 2024b) when used under specific conditions.

Timeline

These novel foods may be placed on the market from the following dates:

• UV-treated powder obtained from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae: 10 February 2025
• Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants: 19 February 2025
• IMO for all newly authorised uses: 19 February 2025.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

UV-treated powder from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae

Until 9 February 2030, only the company Nutri’Earth is authorised to put this product on the EU market, unless another company obtains an authorisation for this product without reference to the scientific data submitted by Nutri’Earth (or unless permitted by Nutri’Earth).

Isomalto-oligosaccharide

Until 10 February 2030, only the company BioNeutra North America is authorised to place IMO on the EU market, unless another company obtains an authorisation for this product without reference to the scientific data submitted by BioNeutra North America (or unless permitted by BioNeutra North America).

Lemna minor and Lemna gibba

Lemna minor and Lemna gibba plants may be placed on the EU market by any operator.

Background

Only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list of novel foods may be placed on the EU market (Regulation 2015/2283).

For further information on the EU authorisation process, see Novel foods explained.

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