UK: Novel foods

A Guidance Note on the requirements of the legislation for the approval of novel foods and novel food ingredients has been published by MAFF. EC Regulation 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients has been implemented in the UK by The Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 1335). The Guidance Note is non-statutory and aims to provide further information on the legislation in force. A “novel” food is defined as a food or food ingredient which has not hitherto been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Community and includes foods containing, consisting of or produced from GMOs. The Note outlines the scope of the UK Regulations, defines genetically modified organisms, explains the current procedures for assessing a novel food or food ingredient and lists the fees for the assessment of novel foods, as charged under the Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients (Fees) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 1336).
(MAFF, July 1999)

The Government announced four farm-scale trials to test the environmental safety of genetically modified crops, choosing to name the locations of the trial sites in an effort to ease public concern. The trial sites have continued to be the victim of campaign action however and it was announced in September that one of the four trial sites was to be scrapped after a Nottinghamshire farmer pulled out of the project.
(The Financial Times, 8 September 1999)

America has continued to criticise the EU and UK curbs on genetically modified food, on the grounds that legislation currently in place can amount to a barrier to trade. The American agriculture secretary is warning that the GM foods issue will lead to trade chaos and thwart progress for agricultural issues in the next world trade round. The issue now threatens to overwhelm the forthcoming World Trade Organisation’s meeting in December.
(The Daily Telegraph, 20 September 1999)