Commission authorizes ultraviolet-treated powder of whole mealworm larvae as a novel food
European Union
Jan 21, 2025
With the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2025/89 of 20 January 2025, the Commission authorising the placing on the market of UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470.
On 28 March 2023, the Authority adopted its scientific opinion on the ‘Safety of UV-treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larvae) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (5) in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
In its scientific opinion, the Authority concluded that UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae is safe under the proposed conditions of use and at the proposed use levels. Therefore, that scientific opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae, when used in bread and rolls, cakes, pasta-based products, processed potato products, cheese and cheese products and fruit and vegetable compotes, intended for the general population, fulfils the conditions for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
The Commission assessed all the information provided by the applicant and considered that they have sufficiently substantiated the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Therefore, the scientific studies and data on the detailed description of the production process and the detailed results of the composition analyses should be protected in accordance with Article 27(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Accordingly, only the applicant should be authorised to place UV-treated powder obtained from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae on the market within the Union during a period of five years from the entry into force of this Regulation.
However, restricting the authorisation of UV-treated powder obtained from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae and the reference to the scientific studies and data contained in the applicant’s file for the sole use by them does not prevent subsequent applicants from applying for an authorisation to place on the market the same novel food provided that their application is based on legally obtained information supporting such an authorisation.
UV-treated powder obtained from whole Tenebrio molitor larvae should be included in the Union list of novel foods set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.
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