NOVEL FOODS

EC Novel Foods Regulation
Before GM foods are approved for sale in the EU they must be rigorously assessed for safety in accordance with the requirements of the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97). This Regulation, which came into force on 15 May 1997, established an EU-wide pre-market approval system for all novel foods, that is foods which have not been used for human consumption in the EU before, including foods containing or produced from GM organisms (GMOs).

The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
In the UK the assessment of novel, including GM, foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), a body of independent experts whose expertise is acknowledged world-wide. The ACNFP publishes information about itself and its activities on its webpage.

Current Applications to EU Member States
This list has been updated since 1 April 2000 and can now be found on our website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk/
committees/acnfp/pq585att

World Health Organisation (WHO): Foods derived from Modern Biotechnology
WHO has been addressing a wide range of issues in the field of biotechnology and human health. Click here to go to the site describing WHO activities in this area.

Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
The 23rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission agreed to establish the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology. One of the Terms of Reference of the Task Force is to elaborate standards, guidelines, or other principles, as appropriate, for foods derived from biotechnology. In order to facilitate discussion on this subject at the first meeting of the Task Force, due to take place from 14 to 17 March, Governments and international organisations have been asked to submit papers for discussion or information. The attached provides further information.

Labelling of GM foods
EC Regulation 258/97 requires specific labelling when a food is judged, on the basis of a scientific assessment, not to be equivalent to an existing food. Food will also require labelling if there are any health or ethical concerns or if it contains a GMO. Guidance notes have been produced to accompany the Novel Foods and Novel Foods Ingredients legislation.

EC Regulation 1139/98, on the labelling of GM soya and maize took effect from 1st September 1998. This was implemented in the UK on 19th March 1999.  Information regarding these labelling requirements can be found in the Guidance notes on the labelling of food containing genetically modified soya or maize.

EC Regulation 49/2000, an amendment to Regulation 1139/98, extends the scope of the Regulation to include foods sold to mass caterers and establishes a 1% de minimisthreshold for the adventitious contamination of non-GM produce.

EC Regulation 50/2000 introduces rules on the labelling of foods and food ingredients containing additives and flavourings from GM sources. These Regulations come into force on 10 April 2000. An interested parties letter was issued on 19 January 2000. Draft implementing Regulations, amendments to the Guidance Notes and a Regulatory Impact Assessment were sent to interested parties for comment by 1 March 2000 (see 7 January consultation letter).

Copies of the responses to the consultation can be viewed at the MAFF Library and the responses are currently being considered with a view to the Regulations being laid in Parliament during the latter part of March 2000.

An earlier consultation letter of 1 October 1999 sought comments on the EC's original proposals. Following agreement at the EC Standing Committee for Food, a letter to interested parties was sent on 22 October 1999, advising of the amendments proposed. These proposals have now been incorporated into the texts provided for information at Annex D of the consultation letter of 7 January 2000, and have now been superceded by EC Regulations published in the Official Journal (see 19 January 2000 letter for links to the EC website).

Other Sources of Information
An important consideration for consumers when deciding whether to purchase GM foods is an awareness of what the technology involves and various sources of information, including a GM foods fact sheet are available on this.

House of Lords Report
A Press Release announcing the Government's Response to the House of Lords report on the EC Regulation of genetic modification in agriculture has been issued.

Health Implications of Genetically Modified Foods: a report by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA)
In May 1999, the Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson and the Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Robert May published a report, The Health Implications of Genetically Modified Foods. This is available on the Department of Health website. In addition, three technical annexes to the report were produced:
A - A list of products considered by the ACNFP.
B - The safety assessment of GM foods.
C - International activities.

OECD website
Click here to go to the biotechnology and food safety part of the OECD site. This includes information about the Edinburgh conference on GM food safety (28 February - 1 March 2000).

Rowett Institute
The ACNFP published on 12 February, a press release on research undertaken at the Rowett Institute on potatoes.  This press release and supporting documents are attached
See also ACNFP statement (May 1999) and Committee on Toxicity (COT) statement (May 1999) on the studies conducted at the Rowett.

Enzymic Preparations
Enzymic preparations derived from GM organisms which are commercially available for food use in the European Union

Review of Biotechnology Framework
In December 1998, the Cabinet Office announced a review of the framework for overseeing developments in biotechnology and genetic modification. The results of this review were published on 29 May 1999 by the Cabinet Office and are available at www.dti.gov.uk/ost/ostbusiness/index.htm

GM Information Website
On 17 December 1999, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Dr Mowlam, launched a new GM information website. This is available at www.gm-info.gov.uk.

Food irradiation
The International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), are a group of food experts designated by Governments to evaluate and advise on global activities of food irradiation. A number of ICGFI publications have been produced since 1998. These are available on the ICGFI website at www.iaea.org./icgfi.

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This page was last updated on 4 July 2000