Safety of Novel Foods Research Programme (G01)

In 1997, the EC Novel Foods Regulation (EC 258/97) introduced a pre-market approval system for novel (including GM) foods. The Food Standards Agency is the UK Competent Authority for this Regulation. Its role is to ensure that all novel foods approved undergo a rigorous safety evaluation that is scientifically valid. This research programme aims to support research to underpin the safety evaluation. This forms part of the Agency's strategic plan to ensure that our safety assessments are open, transparent and based on the best available science and that the methodologies for, and results of, our assessments are effectively communicated

Novel foods are defined as foods or food ingredients not consumed in the EU prior to the introduction of the EC Novel Foods Regulation in May 1997. At the time the term included genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or their derived products. The safety assessment of GMOs is now covered by the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.

Research in this programme has built on previous work in this area originally funded by the then MAFF and by the Food Standards Agency from April 2000. The research has addressed issues regarding the safety of novel foods. Calls for proposals in the latter stages of the G01 programme focussed on the role of probiotics and the development of new techniques for the detection of GMOs in food.
The conclusions of this programme will continue to inform the safety assessment procedure to ensure that the most up to date science is applied.

Novel foods have the potential to provide consumers with a more varied and nutritious diet and to provide producers and processors with opportunities to diversify into new markets. It is Government policy to ensure any novel foods on sale in the UK market receive a rigorous safety evaluation, which is scientifically valid.

In the UK, the safety assessment of novel foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). In 2003 a centralised system for the safety assessment of GMOs was set up and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) took over responsibility for this work. However, strategies for the safety assessment procedure are established by international bodies such as the European Commission (through EFSA), the OECD and the FAO/WHO, following consultation with member states. As the UK competent authority in this area, the Agency continues to contribute to the formulation of these strategies.

The key objectives for the Novel Foods Additives and Supplements Division are to ensure the Division meets its obligations to the Agency in terms of advice and that the Division plays a part in helping the Agency to discharge its statutory obligations as set out in the Food Standards Act 1999. In particular the Novel Foods Additives and Supplements Division will ensure that all novel and GM foods are assessed for safety and that a research and development programme is supported to underpin the safety of novel and GM foods to ensure that the most up to date scientific knowledge is used.

Various international fora have discussed the safety assessment procedure for GM and novel foods and have concluded that new and emerging techniques should be investigated to enhance and refine the current approach. Some early projects utilising new and emerging techniques were funded under the G01 programme; however the majority of this work has been taken forward under the Agency's G02 programme.
The G01 programme has addressed key issues of consumer concern regarding the safety of GM foods. This particularly applies to research that, although extremely important in furthering our understanding of the safety implications of GM foods, was unlikely to be funded by other research bodies.

The objectives of the programme were:

• to provide a framework of generic methods and information against which the safety evaluation of a specific novel food can be assessed
• to provide government with information necessary to facilitate the development of scientifically valid, internationally acceptable procedures for the safety evaluation of novel and GM foods
• to facilitate the development of analytical procedures to ensure that existing and proposed procedures and regulations can be enforced and consumers are not mislead

This research programme is now complete. Its findings have contributed to the safety assessment of novel and GM foods and have led to follow up research projects in the G02 and G03 programmes.

Name: Dr Sonia Molnar
Tel: 020 7276 8571
Email: sonia.molnar@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk