FSA Proposes Policy for Transitional Authorization of Edible Insects in Britain
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), in conjunction with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), has launched a public consultation that aims to bring clarity to the British edible insect industry. FSA also announced that it will allow edible insects to remain on the market in Great Britain while the agency conducts its novel foods authorization process to assess the safety of edible insects. FSA’s consultation on edible insects follows a recent declaration from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that provides evidence that edible mealworms are a safe novel food.
FSA has reviewed its policy approach to the authorization of certain edible insects in Great Britain within the scope of the existing transitional measures in the novel food regulations that were retained from the EU after Brexit. At present, only edible insects that have been authorized by FSA or FSS may be placed on the British market, unless the products are covered by the retained transitional measures. In Northern Ireland, EU legislation on novel foods continues to apply.