(1)

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list may be placed on the market within the Union.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (2) establishing a Union list of authorised novel foods was adopted.

(3)

On 28 December 2018, the company Fair Insects BV (‘the applicant’) submitted an application to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 to place frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) on the Union market as a novel food. The applicant requested frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) to be used in a number of foods intended for the general population.

(4)

The applicant also submitted a request to the Commission for the protection of proprietary data for a number of data submitted in support of the application. Namely, detailed description of the production process (3), analytical data on the composition (4), stability studies (5), protein digestibility study (6), cytotoxicity study, including full study reports (7), list of analytical data on the composition (8), intake assessment and proposed uses and use levels (9).

(5)

In accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) on 9 August 2019, asking it to provide a scientific opinion by carrying out an assessment for frozen and dried preparations from yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food.

(6)

On 7 July 2021 the Authority, in accordance with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 adopted its scientific opinion on the ‘Safety of frozen and dried formulations from whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (10).

(7)

In its opinion, the Authority concluded that frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) are safe under the proposed uses and use levels. Therefore, the opinion of the Authority gives sufficient grounds to establish that frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) under the specific conditions of use fulfils the requirements for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(8)

In that opinion and the Authority’s opinion on the ‘Scientific Opinion on the safety of dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (11), the Authority also concluded on the basis of limited published evidence on food allergy related to insects, that the consumption of the novel food may induce primary sensitisation and allergic reactions to yellow mealworm proteins. In accordance with the Authority’s recommendation to carry out research on the allergenicity to Tenebrio molitor larva, the Commission is currently exploring the ways to carry out the necessary research. Until the data is generated by the research and assessed by the Authority, and considering that, to date, only the few allergic cases have been reported according to data available to the insect industry of Tenebrio molitor larva (12), the Commission considers that no specific labelling requirements concerning the potential of Tenebrio molitor larva to cause primary sensitisation should be included in the Union list of authorised novel foods.

(9)

In those opinions, the Authority also concluded that the consumption of the novel food may cause allergic reactions in persons that are allergic to crustaceans and dust mites due to cross-reactivity. Furthermore, the Authority noted that additional allergens may end up in the novel food, if these allergens are present in the substrate feed to the insects. This may include allergens, listed in the Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (13). Therefore, it is appropriate that frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) made available to the consumer as such and foods containing these preparations are appropriately labelled following the requirements in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

(10)

In its opinion, the Authority noted that the detailed description of the production process, analytical data on the composition, stability studies, protein digestibility study, cytotoxicity study, including full study reports, served as a basis to establish the safety of the novel food. The Authority also noted that it could not have reached its conclusion without those data, claimed by the applicant as proprietary.

(11)

The Commission requested the applicant to further clarify the justification provided with regard to their proprietary claim over those data and to clarify their claim to an exclusive right of reference to those data, as required under Article 26(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(12)

The applicant declared that, at the time of the submission of the application, they held proprietary and exclusive rights of reference to those data under national law, and that therefore third parties cannot lawfully access, use or refer to those data.

(13)

The Commission assessed all the information provided by the applicant and considered that the applicant has sufficiently substantiated the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Therefore, detailed description of the production process (14), analytical data on the composition (15), stability studies (16), protein digestibility study (17), cytotoxicity study, including full study reports (18), contained in the applicant’s file, on which the Authority based its conclusion on the safety of the novel food and without which it could not have assessed the novel food, should not be used by the Authority for the benefit of any subsequent applicant for a period of five years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Accordingly, only the applicant should be authorised to place frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) on the market within the Union during that period.

(14)

However, restricting the authorisation of frozen, dried and powder forms of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) and of the reference to the data contained in the applicant’s file for the sole use of the applicant, does not prevent other 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 authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(15)

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(16)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.