EHPM Cautious About Novel Food Catalogue

BRUSSELS, Belgium—The European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM), an industry trade association, released a statement that it is “reassured” by a statement from the European Commission that its recently published novel food catalogue is not legally binding for EU member states. However, EHPM added it still has concerns that listing an ingredient in the catalogue could prejudice its members’ products commercial viability.

According to the EC, the catalogue is the result of ongoing discussions of the Novel Food Working Group, which includes member state food experts and EC officials. On its Web site about the novel food catalogue, the EC explains it views the document as a “living document” that will be amended on an ongoing basis; it includes ingredients that have been discussed in relation to their status to the Novel Food regulation.

Lorene Courrege, EHPM director of regulatory affairs, said, “We are reassured with the provisions published on the Commission’s Web site regarding the novel food catalogue ... [but] we are still concerned that some national authorities may use the document as a legal reference, meaning that once an ingredient appears on the list that may immediately trigger its consideration as a novel food ingredient. This will have a commercial impact on products without giving the industry the opportunity to provide information to prove the ingredient should not have novel food status.”