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The impact of the European Novel Food Regulation on trade and food innovation based on traditional plant foods from developing countries

From : ScienceDirect

Michael Hermann, a,

aBioversity International, c/o Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 413 St Jacques, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y1N9

Received 29 January 2009; revised 10 August 2009; accepted 15 August 2009. Available online 9 September 2009.

Abstract
The stringent food safety assessment for novel foods required by the European Union’s Novel Food Regulation (NFR) places a high burden of proof on those bringing traditional food products to the EU market not consumed in the EU prior 1997. The regulation has emerged as a non-tariff trade barrier for heritage foods from developing countries that are viewed as “exotic” from the EU perspective. We show how the regulation has discouraged investment in supply chains and market development, and how this negatively affects income generation and rural poverty alleviation in developing countries. Focusing on plant-derived foods, this paper proposes to recognize traditional exotic foods in current EU law as a food category sui generis with food safety evidence requirements being proportionate to the risks they may pose. We argue that development activities promoting export food chains must increasingly accommodate legitimate food safety concerns about neglected food species in project design and seek to generate data to enhance regulatory acceptance in target markets.

Keywords: Market access barriers; Traditional foods; Food safety; EU Novel Food Regulation; Neglected crops; Export supply chains

Article Outline
Introduction
New income opportunities for poor countries from traditional food products
The relevance of trade in traditional exotic foods to development and poverty alleviation
The EU Novel Food Regulation
Procedures and implementation since 1997
Implementation of the Novel Food Regulation from 1997 to 2008
Authorized applications
Noni juice and leaves
Baobab fruit pulp
Allanblackia
Denied applications of traditional foods under the NFR
Other traditional foods challenged by the NFR
Discussion
Adverse impact of the Novel Food Regulation on trade in biodiversity products
Need for the recognition of exotic traditional foods as a food category sui generis
Evidence requirements for traditional exotic foods
The need for enhanced scientific documentation of traditional foods
Acknowledgements
References



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, November 22, 2009 Posted 7:04 PM by Tevita The impact of the European Novel Food Regulation on trade and food innovation based on traditional plant foods from developing countries From : ScienceDirect Michael Hermann, a, aBioversity International, c/o Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 413 St Jacques, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y1N9 Received 29 January 2009; revised 10 August 2009; accepted 15 August 2009. Available online 9 September 2009. Abstract The stringent food safety assessment for novel foods required by the European Union’s Novel Food Regulation (NFR) places a high burden of proof on those bringing traditional food products to the EU market not consumed in the EU prior 1997. The regulation has emerged as a non-tariff trade barrier for heritage foods from developing countries that are viewed as “exotic” from the EU perspective. We show how the regulation has discouraged investment in supply chains and market development, and how this negatively affects income generation and rural poverty alleviation in developing countries. Focusing on plant-derived foods, this paper proposes to recognize traditional exotic foods in current EU law as a food category sui generis with food safety evidence requirements being proportionate to the risks they may pose. We argue that development activities promoting export food chains must increasingly accommodate legitimate food safety concerns about neglected food species in project design and seek to generate data to enhance regulatory acceptance in target markets. Keywords: Market access barriers; Traditional foods; Food safety; EU Novel Food Regulation; Neglected crops; Export supply chains Article Outline Introduction New income opportunities for poor countries from traditional food products The relevance of trade in traditional exotic foods to development and poverty alleviation The EU Novel Food Regulation Procedures and implementation since 1997 Implementation of the Novel Food Regulation from 1997 to 2008 Authorized applications Noni juice and leaves Baobab fruit pulp Allanblackia Denied applications of traditional foods under the NFR Other traditional foods challenged by the NFR Discussion Adverse impact of the Novel Food Regulation on trade in biodiversity products Need for the recognition of exotic traditional foods as a food category sui generis Evidence requirements for traditional exotic foods The need for enhanced scientific documentation of traditional foods Acknowledgements References * Comments: It is very important to develop an organic agriculture. The production should be based on an agriculture based on agricultural practices near nature. 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