Health Canada has determined that foods derived from cloned cattle and swine are safe and should no longer be considered novel foods, and has proposed policy revisions that would regulate these foods in the same manner as their traditional counterparts.
To support the preparation of applications for regulated products, EFSA released a new guidance document detailing the scientific requirements for the characterization and risk assessment of both genetically modified (GM) and non-GM microorganisms used in the food chain.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated the potential novel risks posed by the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) for the breeding of farmed food animals, as well as the adequacy of EFSA’s current risk assessment guidance on NGTs for food animals.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has received official approval for four changes to the Food Standards Code. It has also provided new targeted guidance on microbiological safety and hygiene for seafood and cell-cultured products.
The new definitions are designed to remove ambiguity and improve clarity and predictability while continuing to protect public health and safety, but some food industry sectors oppose the decision.
A new Shared Assessment Process (SAP) allows food developers to submit an application for joint assessment by both agencies. By removing duplication, the process aims to cut down approval times while upholding each country’s safety standards.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation for the market authorization of additives, flavorings, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for use in food and feed; two novel foods; and one food contact (FCM) material. Additionally, approvals for eight flavorings have not been renewed.
Recent research efforts by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support novel food risk assessments include a study of the effects that processing methods for novel and genetically modified foods can have on proteins, as well as the development of a fit-for-purpose, in vitro toxicity assessment approach for novel proteins.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have released an online tool to help biotechnology companies better understand the regulatory requirements for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In February 2024, FDA clarified the regulatory pathway for human and animal foods produced from genome-edited plants in a final guidance titled Foods Derived from Plants Produced Using Genome Editing: Guidance for Industry.
