Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
194. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department with respect to the development of synthetic food; if he has engaged with the Food and Safety Authority on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51357/23]
View answerFood safety policy is a priority for my Department, and this is informed by scientific advice from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland(FSAI) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
I am advised by FSAI that newly developed synthetic foods are classified as novel foods. Novel foods are foods which have not been consumed to a significant extent in the EU before May 1997. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, provides for the assessment and authorisation of such foods before they can be placed on the EU market. The Regulations also set out the manner in which the novel foods can be placed on the market once approved.
Synthetic foods such as cultured meat, lab meat and cultivated meat, are not currently authorised as novel foods in the EU. Due to the use of new technologies and production processes, these types of products will require pre-market authorisation as novel foods under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The FSAI informs me that there have been no applications for cultured meat, lab meat and cultivated meat to be authorised as a novel food in the EU to date.
When a novel food application is submitted it is fully assessed by EFSA. A stringent scientific evaluation of the applicant food product is carried out by EFSA before an opinion on the safety of the food is issued. If a favourable opinion is issued, it then falls to Member States to vote on a legislative proposal on novel food authorisations. As the competent authority the FSAI will advise my Department on any such applications.
