Last updated on October 2, 2025
No, in the UK a food qualifies as a novel food if it has not been consumed to a significant degree by humans in the UK before 15 May 1997 or is produced by new processes; novel foods require a safety assessment and authorisation before being placed on the UK market; businesses must submit an application with safety data to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or follow the established simplified routes where applicable; marketing novel foods without approval risks enforcement action, product recall and criminal penalties; companies should perform due diligence, consult the FSA guidance on novel foods, and consider transitional arrangements for products already on the market under specific rules.
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/novel-foods
3/12/2024