Novel food: apple fruit cell culture biomass
Published by AGRINFO on
EU authorises the marketing of apple fruit cell culture biomass in food supplements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2847 of 20 December 2023 authorising the placing on the market of apple fruit cell culture biomass as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470
Update
The EU has authorised the marketing of apple fruit cell culture biomass as a novel food that can be used in food supplements aimed at adults.
Impacted Products
Food supplements for adults
What is changing?
This Regulation permits this novel food to be marketed in the EU for use in food supplements for adults. It is subject to specific conditions of use and labelling requirements (including a statement that food supplements containing apple fruit cell culture biomass should only be consumed by persons over 18 years of age). Details of these conditions and labelling requirements are set out in the Annex to the Regulation.
Why?
The EU approval follows a novel food application by Mibelle Group Biochemistry. The approval was based on a European Food Safety Authority evaluation (EFSA 2023) which concluded the product is safe under the proposed conditions of use.
Timeline
This product is permitted on the market from 9 January 2024.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
Food supplement producers in non-EU countries now have the opportunity to market food supplements containing apple fruit cell culture biomass aimed at adults, provided the specific conditions of use and labelling requirements are met.
Background
This Regulation updates the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 which lists all authorised novel foods permitted on the EU market (see the Union list of novel foods).
For further information on the EU novel foods authorisation process, see Novel foods explained.
Resources
Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods
EFSA (2023) Safety of apple fruit cell culture biomass as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal 21(7): 8065.
Sources
Regulation (EU) 2023/2847 authorising the placing on the market of apple fruit cell culture biomass as a novel food