The Novel Food (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Subject matter and purpose

1

This Regulation lays down rules for novel foods placed on the market within F2Great Britain .

2

The purpose of this Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and consumers' interests.

Procedure for determination of novel food status

1

Food business operators must verify whether or not the food which they intend to place on the market within F8Great Britain falls within the scope of this Regulation.

2

Where they are unsure whether or not a food which they intend to place on the market within F8Great Britain falls within the scope of this Regulation, food business operators must consult the Food Safety Authority. Food business operators must provide the necessary information to the Food Safety Authority to enable it to determine whether or not a food falls within the scope of this Regulation.

Implementing power concerning the definition of novel food

The appropriate authority may prescribe that a particular food is a novel food within the meaning of this Regulation.

List of authorised novel foods

1

The appropriate authority must establish and update a list of novel foods authorised to be placed on the market within F9the constituent territory of Great Britain in accordance with Articles 7 and 9.

2

Only novel foods authorised and included in the list may be placed on the market within the United Kingdom as such, or used in or on foods, in accordance with the conditions of use and the labelling requirements specified in the list.

Procedure for authorising the placing on the market of a novel food and updating the list

1

The procedure for authorising the placing on the market within F10Great Britain of a novel food and updating the list provided for in Article 9 must start either on the initiative of the appropriate authority or following an application to the appropriate authority by an applicant. The appropriate authority must make the summary of the application, based on the information referred to in points (a), (b) and (e) of paragraph 2 of this Article, publicly available.

2

The application for an authorisation must include—

a

the name and address of the applicant;

b

the name and description of the novel food;

c

the description of the production process;

d

the detailed composition of the novel food;

e

scientific evidence demonstrating that the novel food does not pose a safety risk to human health;

f

where appropriate, the analysis method;

g

a proposal for the conditions of intended use and for specific labelling requirements which do not mislead the consumer or a verifiable justification why those elements are not necessary.

3

Upon request by the appropriate authority, the Food Safety Authority must give its opinion as to whether the update is liable to have an effect on human health.

4

When test methods are applied to engineered nanomaterials as referred to in points (a) (viii) and (ix) of Article 3(2), an explanation must be provided by the applicants of their scientific appropriateness for nanomaterials and, where applicable, of the technical adaptations or adjustments that have been made in order to respond to the specific characteristics of those materials.

5

The procedure for authorising the placing on the market within F10Great Britain of a novel food and updating the list as provided for in Article 9 ends when the appropriate authority prescribes an update of the list in respect of that novel food in accordance with Article 12.

6

By way of derogation from paragraph 5, the appropriate authority may terminate the procedure at any stage, and decide not to proceed with an update of the list where the appropriate authority considers that an update is not justified.

7

The applicant may withdraw its application at any time, thereby terminating the procedure.

Opinion of the Food Safety Authority

1

Where the appropriate authority requests an opinion from the Food Safety Authority, it must forward the valid application to the Food Safety Authority without delay, and not later than one month after having verified its validity. The Food Safety Authority must adopt its opinion within nine months from the date of receipt of a valid application.

2

In assessing the safety of novel foods, the Food Safety Authority must, where appropriate, consider whether—

a

the novel food concerned is as safe as food from a comparable food category already placed on the market within F11Great Britain;

b

the composition of the novel food and the conditions of its use do not pose a safety risk to human health in F11Great Britain;

c

a novel food, which is intended to replace another food, does not differ from that food in such a way that its normal consumption would be nutritionally disadvantageous for the consumer.

3

The Food Safety Authority must forward its opinion to the appropriate authority and, where applicable, to the applicant.

4

In duly justified cases, where the Food Safety Authority requests additional information from the applicant, the nine month period provided for in paragraph 1 may be extended. After consulting the applicant, the Food Safety Authority must specify a period within which that additional information is to be provided.

5

Where the additional information referred to in paragraph 4 is not provided to the Food Safety Authority within the additional period referred to in that paragraph, the Food Safety Authority must draw up its opinion on the basis of the available information.

6

Where an applicant submits additional information on its own initiative, it must send that information to the Food Safety Authority. In such cases, the Food Safety Authority must give its opinion within the nine month period provided for in paragraph 1.

7

The Food Safety Authority must make the additional information provided in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 6 available to the appropriate authority.

Authorisation of a novel food and updates of the list

1

Within seven months from the date of publication of the Food Safety Authority's opinion, the appropriate authority must, by prescribing an update of the list, authorise the placing on the market within F12Great Britain of a novel food, taking into account the following—

a

the conditions provided for in points (a) and (b) of Article 7 and, where applicable, in point (c) of that Article;

b

any relevant provision of retained direct EU legislation, including the precautionary principle as referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002;

c

the Food Safety Authority's opinion;

d

any other legitimate factors relevant to the application under consideration.

2

Where the appropriate authority has not requested an opinion from the Food Safety Authority in accordance with Article 10(3), the seven month period provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article starts from the date on which the valid application is received by the appropriate authority in accordance with Article 10(1).

Procedure for notifying the placing on the market of a traditional food from a third country

1

The appropriate authority must forward the valid notification provided for in Article 14 without delay, and not later than one month after having verified its validity, to the Food Safety Authority.

2

Within four months from the date on which a valid notification under Article 14 is received by the appropriate authority, the Food Safety Authority may issue to the appropriate authority duly reasoned safety objections to the placing on the market within F14Great Britain of the traditional food concerned.

3

The appropriate authority must inform the applicant of any duly reasoned safety objection as soon as it is issued.

4

Where no duly reasoned safety objections have been issued in accordance with paragraph 2 within the time limit laid down in that paragraph, the appropriate authority must authorise the placing on the market within F14Great Britain of the traditional food concerned by prescribing an update to the list without delay. The entry in the list must specify that it concerns a traditional food from a third country. Where applicable, certain conditions for use, specific labelling requirements, or post market monitoring requirements may be specified.

5

Where duly reasoned safety objections have been issued in accordance with paragraph 2, the appropriate authority must not authorise the placing on the market within F14Great Britain of the traditional food concerned or update the list. In that case, the applicant may submit an application to the appropriate authority in accordance with Article 16.

Application for the authorisation of a traditional food from a third country

Where the appropriate authority does not authorise the placing on the market within F15Great Britain of a traditional food from a third country, the applicant may submit an application including, in addition to the information already provided in accordance with Article 14, documented data relating to the duly reasoned safety objections issued in accordance with Article 15(2). The appropriate authority must, without delay, forward the valid application to the Food Safety Authority.

Opinion of the Food Safety Authority on a traditional food from a third country

1

The Food Safety Authority must adopt its opinion within six months from the date of receipt of a valid application.

2

In assessing the safety of a traditional food from a third country, the Food Safety Authority must consider the following matters—

a

whether the history of safe food use in a third country is substantiated by reliable data submitted by the applicant in accordance with Articles 14 and 16;

b

whether the composition of the food and the conditions of its use do not pose a safety risk to human health in F16Great Britain;

c

where the traditional food from the third country is intended to replace another food, whether it does not differ from that food in such a way that its normal consumption would be nutritionally disadvantageous for the consumer.

3

The Food Safety Authority must forward its opinion to the appropriate authority and the applicant.

4

In duly justified cases, where the Food Safety Authority requests additional information from the applicant, the six month period provided for in paragraph 1 may be extended. After consulting the applicant, the Food Safety Authority must specify a period within which that additional information is to be provided and the six month period provided for in paragraph 1 is extended by that additional period.

5

Where the additional information referred to in paragraph 4 is not provided to the Food Safety Authority within the additional period referred to in that paragraph, the Food Safety Authority must draw up its opinion on the basis of the available information.

6

Where an applicant submits additional information on its own initiative, it must send that information to the Food Safety Authority. In such cases, the Food Safety Authority must give its opinion within the six month period provided for in paragraph 1.

7

The Food Safety Authority must make the additional information provided in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 6 available to the appropriate authority.

Authorisation of a traditional food from a third country and updates of the list

1

Within three months of the date of publication of the Food Safety Authority's opinion, the appropriate authority must authorise the placing on the market within F17Great Britain of the traditional food from a third country by prescribing an update of the list, taking into account the following—

a

the conditions provided for in points (a) and (b) of Article 7 and, where applicable, point (c) of that Article;

b

any relevant provision of law, including the precautionary principle as referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002;

c

the Food Safety Authority's opinion;

d

any other legitimate factors relevant to the application under consideration.

2

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the appropriate authority may, having taken account of the Food Safety Authority's opinion and any other legitimate factors relevant to the update under consideration, terminate the procedure at any stage and decide not to proceed with an update of the list where it considers that such an update is not justified. The appropriate authority must inform the applicant of the reasons for not considering the update to be justified.

3

The applicant may withdraw its application referred to in Article 16 at any time, thereby terminating the procedure.

Additional information concerning risk management

1

Where the appropriate authority requests from an applicant additional information on matters concerning risk management, the appropriate authority must determine, together with the applicant, the period within which that information is to be provided. In such cases, the period provided for in Article 12(1) or (2) or in Article 18(1) may be extended accordingly.

2

Where the additional information referred to in paragraph 1 is not received within the additional period referred to in that paragraph, the appropriate authority must act on the basis of the available information.

Extension of time periods

In exceptional circumstances, the appropriate authority may extend the time periods provided for in Articles 11(1), 12(1) or (2), 17(1) and 18(1) on its own initiative or, where applicable, at the Food Safety Authority's request, where the nature of the matter in question justifies an appropriate extension.

Confidentiality of applications for updates of the list

1

Applicants may request confidential treatment of certain information submitted under this Regulation where disclosure of such information may harm their competitive position.

2

For the purposes of paragraph 1, applicants must indicate which parts of the information provided they wish to be treated as confidential and provide all the necessary details to substantiate their request for confidentiality. Verifiable justification must be given in such cases.

3

After being informed of the appropriate authority's position on the request, applicants may withdraw their application within three weeks, during which the confidentiality of the information provided must be observed.

4

After expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 3, if an applicant has not withdrawn the application and in case of disagreement the appropriate authority must decide which parts of the information are to remain confidential and notify the applicant accordingly. However, the following information is not confidential—

a

the name and address of the applicant;

b

the name and description of the novel food;

c

the proposed conditions of use of the novel food;

d

a summary of the studies submitted by the applicant;

e

the results of the studies carried out to demonstrate the safety of the food;

f

where appropriate, the analysis method;

g

any prohibition or restriction imposed in respect of the food by a third country.

5

The appropriate authority and the Food Safety Authority must take necessary measures to ensure appropriate confidentiality of the information as referred to in paragraph 4 and received by them under this Regulation, except for information which is required to be made public in order to protect human health.

6

Where an applicant withdraws, or has withdrawn, its application, the appropriate authority and the Food Safety Authority must not disclose confidential information, including the information whose confidentiality is the subject of disagreement between the appropriate authority and the applicant.

7

The application of paragraphs 1 to 6 does not restrict the exchange of information concerning the application between the appropriate authority and the Food Safety Authority.

8

The appropriate authority may prescribe rules for the implementation of paragraphs 1 to 6.

Additional information requirements

Any food business operator which has placed a novel food on the market must immediately inform the Food Safety Authority of any information of which it has become aware concerning—

a

any new scientific or technical information which might influence the evaluation of the safety of use of the novel food;

b

any prohibition or restriction imposed by a third country in which the novel food is placed on the market.

Authorisation of a novel food and inclusion in the list based on protected proprietary scientific evidence or scientific data

1

Where a novel food is authorised and included in the list pursuant to Articles 10 to 12 based on proprietary scientific evidence or scientific data that are granted data protection as provided for in Article 26(1), the entry of that novel food in the list must indicate, in addition to the information referred to in Article 9(3)—

a

the date of inclusion of the novel food in the list;

b

the fact that that inclusion is based on proprietary scientific evidence and scientific data protected in accordance with Article 26;

c

the name and address of the applicant;

d

the fact that during the period of data protection the novel food is authorised for placing on the market within F19Great Britain only by the applicant specified in point (c) of this paragraph, unless a subsequent applicant obtains authorisation for the novel food without reference to the proprietary scientific evidence or scientific data protected in accordance with Article 26 or with the agreement of the initial applicant;

e

the end date of the data protection provided for in Article 26.

2

Scientific evidence or scientific data protected in accordance with Article 26 or for which the protection period under that Article has expired is not to be granted renewed protection.

Engineered nanomaterials

For the purposes of achieving the objectives of this Regulation, the appropriate authority may prescribe changes to the definition of engineered nanomaterials referred to in point (f) of Article 3(2) to reflect technical and scientific progress or definitions agreed at international level.

Article 32ARegulations and devolved powers

1

Any power to make regulations under this Regulation—

a

so far as exercisable by a Minister of the Crown, is exercisable by statutory instrument;

b

so far as exercisable by the Welsh Ministers, is exercisable by statutory instrument;

F21c

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

For regulations made under this Regulation by the Scottish Ministers, see also section 27 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 M3 (Scottish statutory instruments).

3

Any power to make regulations under this Regulation includes power—

a

to make different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case (including different provision for different areas or different classes of business); and

b

to provide for such exceptions, limitations and conditions, and to make such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provisions, as the appropriate authority considers necessary or expedient.

4

F22Any statutory instrument or Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations made under this Regulation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution—

a

in the case of England, of either House of Parliament;

b

in the case of Wales, of F23Senedd Cymru;

c

in the case of Scotland, of the Scottish Parliament;

F24d

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

In this Regulation, any power—

a

of the Secretary of State to make regulations is limited to regulations which apply in relation to England only;

b

of the Welsh Ministers to make regulations is limited to regulations which apply in relation to Wales only;

c

of the Scottish Ministers to make regulations is limited to regulations which apply in relation to Scotland only;

F25d

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Verification of the validity of an application

1

On receipt of an application the appropriate authority must without delay verify whether the application falls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and whether the application fulfils the requirements set out in Article 10(2) of that Regulation.

2

The Food Safety Authority must, on request by the appropriate authority, provide the appropriate authority with its views on whether the application fulfils the relevant requirements set out in Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 within a period of 30 days.

3

The Food Safety Authority may request additional information from the applicant as regards the validity of the application and agree with the applicant of the period within which that information is to be provided.

4

By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, and without prejudice to Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, an application may be considered as valid even if it does not contain all the elements required under Articles 3 to 5 of this Regulation, provided that the applicant has submitted appropriate justification for each missing element.

5

The appropriate authority must inform the applicant whether the application is considered valid. If the application is not considered valid, the appropriate authority must indicate the reasons why it is not considered valid.

Transitional measures

The deadline for the submission of the applications referred to in Article 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 is 1 January 2019.

List of authorised novel foods

The list of novel foods authorised to be placed on the market within F30Great Britain as referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 is hereby established and set out in the Annex to this Regulation.