Food Week Frankfurt 2025 – Innovation needs regulation at speed – EU Update Novel Foods

Our partner Anna-Lena attended Food Week Frankfurt and spoke about the new guidelines from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and international benchmarks. The EFSA has published an update to address key hurdles in the authorisation of novel foods. What has really improved, and where is there still room for improvement?

Innovation vs. bureaucracy – where Europe stands

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 regulates the authorisation of novel foods. Novel foods include ingredients:

• that are produced using processes that were not common before 1997 or are new (e.g. cell culture-based processes),
• that are consumed outside Europe but do not have a long tradition here,
• or that are used in a new way as extracts/by-products.

Between 2018 and 2024, around 292 applications were examined. According to Food Research and Science of Food, it took an average of 2.5 to 6 years from application to publication, often extended by validations and additional requests.

Industry reports such as Business Insider describe the practical hurdles for start-ups, long timelines, additional data requirements, capital commitment and difficult planning.

EFSA Update 2025: what has really improved?

The EFSA Update:

• End-to-end digital submission via Connect.EFSA/IUCLID (International Uniform ChemicaL Information Database) → structured dossiers and improved traceability
• More pre-submission support and transparency → earlier clarification, fewer surprises (disclosure of non-confidential parts of dossiers, public consultations)
• More precise requirements/checklists → clear guidelines on description/identification, manufacturing process, specifications, conditions of use, exposure, safety/allergen data.

In short: Current developments offer a real opportunity for more predictable procedures, combined with a clear need for greater transparency in the application process. At the same time, the requirements for preparatory work, data scope and digital traceability are increasing significantly. In the context of international competitiveness, clearer timetables, earlier interactions and so-called "regulatory sandboxes" are also recommended in order to make the European environment more attractive.

Practical examples

• Cell-cultured products: Currently not authorised in the EU; initial international approvals and pilot markets show what predictable, faster procedures can look like. A much-cited milestone is the approval of cultured chicken meat in Singapore (GOOD Meat, a brand of Eat Just) – a signal for first-launch strategies.
• European innovators with an "Asia-Pacific (APAC) first" approach: Solar Foods (Finland) used Singapore for early product launches and market data before EU approvals followed – a typical approach to building evidence and convincing investors.

Classification: APAC approvals do not replace the EU. For EU market access, complete dossiers in accordance with EFSA guidelines remain necessary. Thinking outside the box – timelines in APAC

• Singapore (official authority: Singapore Food Agency, SFA): The official benchmark for the evaluation of a novel food product is approximately 9–12 months (for a complete application).
• South Korea (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, MFDS): For applications under the "Temporary Standards" (e.g. cell-cultured/fermentation-based ingredients), the total duration is expected to be up to 270 days.

What we can do for you

We help you develop labels and packaging so that claims and mandatory information are tailored to the target market, either as a quick check shortly before the artwork is finalised or as support from the initial idea to market launch. On request, we prepare pre-submission questions, structure specifications and link packaging texts to your evidence base to ensure that the process runs smoothly. Our colleague Anna accompanies small and large projects through to market readiness.