Crescendo Organics and Natural Products Applies for Chia Seeds Novel Food Approval

16 Feb 2016 --- A company has applied to the FSA for chia seeds to be approved for use in the European Union (EU) under the simplified approval procedure. Views are wanted on the draft opinion of the company’s application by Wednesday 24 February 2016.

The company, Crescendo Organics and Natural Products, is requesting an opinion from the FSA on the “equivalence” of its chia seeds, which are grown in particular regions of South America, with the chia seeds marketed by The Chia Company that are grown in Australia.

The European Novel Foods Regulation includes a simplified approval procedure for when a company believes its novel food is substantially equivalent to a food that is already on the market. In such a situation, the applicant can submit a notification to the European Commission after obtaining an opinion on equivalence from an EU member state – in this case the UK.

The applicant’s chia seeds will be used in the same products as those for which approval has been granted for The Chia Company’s seeds (bread products, breakfast cereal, fruit, nut and seed mixes and bread and 100% packaged chia seeds).