On December 20, 2017, the European Commission adopted three Implementing Regulations to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods ("Novel Foods Regulation"), namely:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2468 laying down administrative and scientific requirements concerning traditional foods from third countries in accordance with the Novel Foods Regulation;
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2469 laying down administrative and scientific requirements for applications referred to in Article 10 of the Novel Foods Regulation; and
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with the Novel Foods Regulation.
The Novel Foods Regulation, applicable to "novel foods" defined as any foods not used for human consumption to a significant degree in the European Union before May 15, 1997, comes into force on January 1, 2018. Novel food can be newly developed, innovative food, food produced using new technologies and production processes, as well as food that is or has been traditionally eaten outside of the European Union. This Regulation establishes a centralized approval system for novel foods, with applications submitted to the European Commission rather than individual EU Member States.
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