The future of food and feed: Navigating the regulatory landscape for novel foods and alternative proteins

In the first episode of a mini-series on the future of food and feed, Katrina Anderson and Jessica Burt discuss the world of novel foods, cultured meats, and alternative proteins, with a particular focus on the recent approval for cultured meat animal feed.

Understanding the regulatory divergence

In the realm of innovative food products, there’s a notable divergence between food and feed regulation. Typically, food and feed regulations run parallel, but when it comes to cutting-edge products, like cultured meats and alternative proteins, the paths differ significantly.

For human consumption, obtaining regulatory approval requires a novel foods authorisation. This involves submitting a comprehensive dossier to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to demonstrate the product’s safety - a process that is both lengthy and complex.

In contrast, the approval process for animal feed is less stringent. While facilities must be authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) under the Animal By-Products Regulation, the process is relatively straightforward, involving an application form and an inspection. Which in practice means you can bring a feed product to market in the UK much more quickly.

The challenge of existing legislation

One of the primary challenges in this field is that current legislation did not anticipate the advent of alternative proteins and cultured meats. The Animal By-Products Regulation, for instance, lacks specific provisions for these innovative products. As a result, businesses must navigate existing classifications to fit their products into the regulatory framework. Each product will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine how it fits into the regulatory scheme. However, the established precedent means that future authorisations for facilities and products are likely to be more straightforward.

Despite these challenges, once the initial hurdle of classification is overcome, the subsequent application for inspection is much simpler compared to the novel foods process. This presents a significant opportunity for businesses to bring alternative proteins and cultured meats to market as pet foods and other animal feeds in the short term.

Conclusion

The regulatory landscape for novel foods and alternative proteins is evolving. With our expert legal advice, businesses can navigate this complex terrain and seize the opportunities ahead. The recent developments in the approval process for cultured meat in animal feed highlight the potential for growth and innovation in this exciting field.

For more information and expert guidance on navigating food and feed regulations, please get in touch.

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