EU greenlights first insect food products made from yellow mealworm

05 May 2021 --- The EU’s recent move to allow the commercialization of dried yellow mealworm and derived products across its market has been welcomed by insect-based food ingredients stakeholders banded under the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF). 

EU member states’ delegates in the EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed have backed a draft, Commission Implementing Regulation, aiming at authorizing the placement of dried Tenebrio molitor larvae on the EU market.

This was based on a novel food application submitted by the French insect producer Agronutris which now becomes the first European insect producer officially authorized to sell insects as human food in the EU.

This positive vote follows the recent publication by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of a scientific opinion which concluded that such a product is safe, in accordance with the conditions of use and specifications proposed by Agronutris.

“The green light given by EU member states represents a major milestone for our company, but also for the insect producing sector as a whole,” remarks Cedric Auriol, Agronutris co-founder and IPIFF member.

“Being among the first insect producers that have heavily invested in the development of novel food applications, Agronutris contributed to the development of scientific evidence demonstrating the safety of insect food products,” comments Auriol.

These views were echoed by the IPIFF president, Antoine Hubert, who hailed this vote as an “important milestone toward the wider EU commercialization of edible insects.”

Application process
In line with the voted draft Regulation, applicants will have the possibility to commercialize products containing dried Tenebrio molitor larvae across the EU for a five-year period, pursuant to the data protection mechanism foreseen in the EU novel food legislation.

These moves are timely, as the bug-based sector has enjoyed a steady influx of investment recently.However, this authorization will also benefit companies which intend to incorporate the ingredients produced or commercialized by Agronutris into insect-based products.

Other producers of dried yellow mealworm also have the possibility to use the “protected” scientific data included in the novel food application developed by Agronutris, if agreed by the latter company.

According to applicable EU procedures, the European Commission is set to officially adopt the draft legal text prior to its publication in the EU Official Journal and its final entry into force.

“We are hoping that these final procedural steps will lead to the effective authorization of these products before the summer,” explains Derrien.

Pending the future confirmation by EFSA on the safety of other insect food products forming the basis of a novel food application. 

Transitional measure
European insect producers who have lawfully commercialized their products at national level before 2018 may benefit from a so-called “transitional measure.”

This provision, provided under the EU novel food legislation, aims at allowing such producers to continue marketing their products at national level, until the EU novel food authorizations – which apply all across the European Union territory – are being granted. 

However, this possibility has been used by several EU countries.

“We are urging EU member states to make full use of the possibilities to implement this novel food transitional measure on their national territory, in full compliance with applicable novel food provisions and EU general food safety and traceability standards,” concludes Derrien. 

Bug boom in F&B
These moves are timely, as the bug-based sector has enjoyed a steady influx of investment recently. Last week, ValuSect, a European insect production project, attributed €410,000 (US$419,800) worth in services to 17 small and medium-sized enterprises located in North-West Europe to help them develop their insect-based food business. 

Insects’ key role in building more sustainable chicken and aquaculture value chains was recently underscored by Bühler. The company notes this is necessary if the industry is to provide adequate protein to feed the world’s ballooning population.

Last March, the European Commission published its “Action Plan for the Development of the Organic Sector” with favorable gains for insect producers looking to contribute to diversifying locally sourced protein feed for organic farmers.

And in February, the IPIFF spoke with FoodIngredientsFirst about the advantages of entomophagy, COVID-19 challenges and how European insect producers have managed to recover faster than expected.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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