Two companies have applied to the Food Standards Agency ("FSA") for approval to market their novel food products in the EU under the Novel Food Regulation (EC) 258/97. Before any new food product can be introduced into the European market, it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the United Kingdom, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, an independent committee of scientists appointed by the FSA.
The first application is seeking to extend the food categories to which oils rich in fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid or "DHA") extracted from microalgae can be used. The second is seeking authorization to sell their phytosterol ester on the basis that it is substantially equivalent to the phytosterol ester ingredients that are already authorized to be marketed in the European Union. Comments were due February 2, 2017.
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