Is that ingredient even legal to sell?
An ingredient without a documented history of consumption in the EU before May 1997 needs novel food authorization under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — and the catalogue is interpretive, not exhaustive. We're building formulation screening that resolves your ingredient list against novel food status and per-country positions.
Free to join. Compliance modules in early access.
The EU Novel Food Catalogue is a starting point, not an answer.
- A novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 is any food or food ingredient that did not have a significant history of human consumption within the EU before 15 May 1997. Selling it without authorization is a regulatory violation — regardless of how widely it is sold in other markets.
- The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists substances and their status — but it is not exhaustive and it is interpretive. An ingredient not appearing in the catalogue does not mean it is permitted; it may mean its status has never been formally determined. Brands routinely underestimate this risk at product launch.
- Extraction method matters. A botanical that has traditional use history may have authorized status as a dried whole plant but require novel food authorization as a high-concentration extract. Synonym resolution matters too — the same compound appears under dozens of names across different label traditions.
How novel food screening works.
Ingredient name resolution
The same capability that normalizes 200k+ formulations resolves synonyms, trade names, and botanical nomenclature into canonical substance identifiers. This is the technical foundation of the compliance check.
Novel food catalogue lookup
Each resolved ingredient is checked against the EU Novel Food Catalogue and known authorization decisions under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
Per-country position surfacing
Some member states have national transitional measures or interpretations that differ from the EU-level position. The screening engine surfaces known per-country positions.
Extraction-method disambiguation
The check accounts for extraction method and concentration where authorization decisions are form-specific — distinguishing between a whole herb and its isolated extract.
Frequently asked questions
What is a novel food under EU law?
A novel food is any food or food ingredient that was not consumed to a significant degree by humans within the EU before 15 May 1997, under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. This covers new substances, new extraction methods applied to existing ingredients, and foods with a history of use outside the EU but not inside it. Novel foods require pre-market authorization from the European Commission before they can be placed on the EU market. Traditional food from third countries can apply for a simplified notification procedure rather than full authorization.
My ingredient isn't in the EU Novel Food Catalogue — does that mean it's allowed?
No. Absence from the catalogue does not mean the ingredient is permitted. The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists substances and their known status, but it is not exhaustive. An unlisted ingredient may have never been formally evaluated, which means its novel food status is undetermined rather than cleared. The precautionary position is to treat an unlisted ingredient as requiring status determination before it appears in a product sold in the EU. Seeking a formal opinion from the European Commission or a competent national authority is the appropriate step.
Are plant extracts automatically permitted if the whole plant has traditional use?
No. A botanical with traditional use history may be cleared as a whole plant or dried herb but require novel food authorization as a standardized extract — particularly if the concentration of active compounds significantly exceeds what is achievable through traditional preparation. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 explicitly covers 'food produced from plants or animals obtained by non-traditional breeding practices' and new extraction or production processes. The extraction method and resulting concentration both factor into the status determination.
What happens if I sell an unauthorized novel food in the EU?
Selling an unauthorized novel food is a violation of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Enforcement outcomes vary by member state and the severity of the situation, but they can include: product withdrawal orders, mandatory recalls from retail channels, fines (which vary by jurisdiction — specific amounts are set by member states, not EU regulation), and reputational exposure. The more significant risk for supplement brands is typically marketplace delisting and loss of retail relationships, which can occur quickly once a compliance issue is identified.
Is that ingredient even legal to sell?
Free to join. Compliance modules in early access.