Over the last five years, it’s been difficult to find anyone in the CBD industry talking about their products without mentioning the term novel food. Since the FSA changed its stance on CBD in 2020 (more on this later), many businesses have been forced to close their doors, while others have struggled to stay afloat due to the monumental costs of ensuring their products appear on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Novel Foods list. But what exactly is the Novel Foods law? In this blog, we’re going to explore what it means and how it has affected the CBD, vitamin, and supplement industries as a whole.
What is Novel Food?
Have you ever wondered how new food products and supplements make it to the shelves? Lab-grown meat to algae-based protein powders are examples of what’s called novel foods. Ingredients or products that haven’t been widely consumed by humans before or were developed using innovative production methods. In simple terms, novel foods represent the cutting edge of food science and innovation, offering exciting possibilities for nutrition, sustainability, and taste, but they also come with strict safety assessments and regulations before reaching the market.
Where It All Began: The Birth of Novel Foods
The idea of novel foods formally began in the 1990s, when the European Union first recognized that new types of foods like genetically modified crops, new plant extracts, or foods produced with new technologies, needed special regulations and tests before being allowed to be sold to the public.
The European Novel Food Regulation was first introduced in 1997, marking the official roll out. The goal was to ensure that any food without a long history of human consumption in Europe would be carefully assessed for safety, nutritional value, and potential allergy risk before entering the market.
The relaunch of the Novel Foods Regulation in 2018 marked a turning point for how next-generation food products are approved and marketed across the European Union. Under the updated Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the system for authorizing novel foods was overhauled to make it simpler, faster, and more transparent.
So, what was the relaunch all about? In short, the 2018 relaunch brought the regulation in line with fast-paced food innovation, making it easier to introduce new foods while keeping consumer safety a priority.
For CBD companies, having a valid Article 4 novel food authorization is essential. Selling products without this specific authorization can result in enforcement action, fines or products being recalled. The Article 4 process ultimately makes sure every CBD product that is sold is safe to consume but also very accurately labeled and consistently manufactured.
How the FSA affects certain product sales in the UK
In February 2020, the FSA announced new guidance stating that most CBD products designed to be eaten or drunk, such as oils, gummies, and beverages would now be classified under novel foods. In practice, this meant that businesses needed to apply for pre-market authorization before their products could be legally sold, unless they already met specific safety and regulatory requirements.
One big consequence: CBD businesses already operating before 13 February 2020 had to submit valid novel food applications by 31 March 2021. If a product was introduced after February 2020, or missed that application window, it could be forced off the shelves until its application was authorized.
These changes have had a big impact on the UK’s CBD market and the way products are sold:
Small CBD brands struggled with costly and complicated FSA requirements, with some shutting down.
Products missing proper paperwork were delisted, leaving fewer options on shelves.
Delays and uncertainty scared off investors, slowing business growth.
Consumers saw higher prices, limited choices, and some products had to cut the already small amount of THC or reformulate.
But it’s not just CBD Products, certain supplements in the UK have also been classed as novel food, forcing businesses to pull them from their catalogue of products. Substances such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), and Tongkat Ali have all been classified as novel foods by the FSA, meaning they are also required to receive pre-market authorization supported by detailed safety and toxicology data. This process is both costly and time-consuming, leading many smaller brands to withdraw products or scale back operations. NMN remains under review within the UK’s Novel Foods Catalogue, while Tongkat Ali’s approval has been delayed due to safety concerns raised by European authorities.
How the UK leaving the EU affected Novel Foods (2020-2021)
When the UK left the European Union, the rules governing novel foods changed significantly. Before Brexit, any product approved under the EU’s Novel Foods Regulation could be sold freely across all member states, including the UK. But from 2021 onward, the UK began operating its own version of the regulation, adapting from the EU law to function independently. This shift meant that while the framework remained familiar, the approval process was now separate from the EU’s system.
For food businesses, this created both challenges and opportunities. Companies can no longer rely on an EU authorization, if a novel food is approved in the EU, it doesn’t automatically get the green light in the UK. Manufacturers and startups that want to sell across both markets must now apply twice, going through two different regulatory systems. That means higher costs, longer timelines, and more complex compliance work, especially for smaller businesses with limited resources.
Novel Foods Today: Where We Stand.
5 years later, CBD STILL remains under review by the FSA, with no final authorization outcome yet determined. According to the FSA this is due to high volumes of applications and the need for comprehensive safety and toxicology data. This uncertainty has had a significant impact on UK businesses: many smaller brands have struggled to remain compliant, some have withdrawn products from the market, and overall consumer choice has been reduced. Meanwhile, companies that have invested in thorough safety documentation may gain a competitive advantage once authorizations are finalised.
What is Novel Food? – A CBDLife Guide To Understanding Novel Food
Over the last five years, it’s been difficult to find anyone in the CBD industry talking about their products without mentioning the term novel food. Since the FSA changed its stance on CBD in 2020 (more on this later), many businesses have been forced to close their doors, while others have struggled to stay afloat due to the monumental costs of ensuring their products appear on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Novel Foods list. But what exactly is the Novel Foods law? In this blog, we’re going to explore what it means and how it has affected the CBD, vitamin, and supplement industries as a whole.
What is Novel Food?
Have you ever wondered how new food products and supplements make it to the shelves? Lab-grown meat to algae-based protein powders are examples of what’s called novel foods. Ingredients or products that haven’t been widely consumed by humans before or were developed using innovative production methods. In simple terms, novel foods represent the cutting edge of food science and innovation, offering exciting possibilities for nutrition, sustainability, and taste, but they also come with strict safety assessments and regulations before reaching the market.
Where It All Began: The Birth of Novel Foods
The idea of novel foods formally began in the 1990s, when the European Union first recognized that new types of foods like genetically modified crops, new plant extracts, or foods produced with new technologies, needed special regulations and tests before being allowed to be sold to the public.
The European Novel Food Regulation was first introduced in 1997, marking the official roll out. The goal was to ensure that any food without a long history of human consumption in Europe would be carefully assessed for safety, nutritional value, and potential allergy risk before entering the market.
Humans have always been curious eaters. Centuries ago, explorers transformed European diets when they brought back foods like tomatoes and potatoes from their travels. But the idea of “novel foods” today is a little different. It’s not about discovering what already exists in nature, it’s about creating something entirely new through science and technology.
The Relaunch of Novel Foods (2018)
The relaunch of the Novel Foods Regulation in 2018 marked a turning point for how next-generation food products are approved and marketed across the European Union. Under the updated Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the system for authorizing novel foods was overhauled to make it simpler, faster, and more transparent.
So, what was the relaunch all about? In short, the 2018 relaunch brought the regulation in line with fast-paced food innovation, making it easier to introduce new foods while keeping consumer safety a priority.
For CBD companies, having a valid Article 4 novel food authorization is essential. Selling products without this specific authorization can result in enforcement action, fines or products being recalled. The Article 4 process ultimately makes sure every CBD product that is sold is safe to consume but also very accurately labeled and consistently manufactured.
How the FSA affects certain product sales in the UK
In February 2020, the FSA announced new guidance stating that most CBD products designed to be eaten or drunk, such as oils, gummies, and beverages would now be classified under novel foods. In practice, this meant that businesses needed to apply for pre-market authorization before their products could be legally sold, unless they already met specific safety and regulatory requirements.
One big consequence: CBD businesses already operating before 13 February 2020 had to submit valid novel food applications by 31 March 2021. If a product was introduced after February 2020, or missed that application window, it could be forced off the shelves until its application was authorized.
These changes have had a big impact on the UK’s CBD market and the way products are sold:
But it’s not just CBD Products, certain supplements in the UK have also been classed as novel food, forcing businesses to pull them from their catalogue of products. Substances such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), and Tongkat Ali have all been classified as novel foods by the FSA, meaning they are also required to receive pre-market authorization supported by detailed safety and toxicology data. This process is both costly and time-consuming, leading many smaller brands to withdraw products or scale back operations. NMN remains under review within the UK’s Novel Foods Catalogue, while Tongkat Ali’s approval has been delayed due to safety concerns raised by European authorities.
How the UK leaving the EU affected Novel Foods (2020-2021)
When the UK left the European Union, the rules governing novel foods changed significantly. Before Brexit, any product approved under the EU’s Novel Foods Regulation could be sold freely across all member states, including the UK. But from 2021 onward, the UK began operating its own version of the regulation, adapting from the EU law to function independently. This shift meant that while the framework remained familiar, the approval process was now separate from the EU’s system.
For food businesses, this created both challenges and opportunities. Companies can no longer rely on an EU authorization, if a novel food is approved in the EU, it doesn’t automatically get the green light in the UK. Manufacturers and startups that want to sell across both markets must now apply twice, going through two different regulatory systems. That means higher costs, longer timelines, and more complex compliance work, especially for smaller businesses with limited resources.
Novel Foods Today: Where We Stand.
5 years later, CBD STILL remains under review by the FSA, with no final authorization outcome yet determined. According to the FSA this is due to high volumes of applications and the need for comprehensive safety and toxicology data. This uncertainty has had a significant impact on UK businesses: many smaller brands have struggled to remain compliant, some have withdrawn products from the market, and overall consumer choice has been reduced. Meanwhile, companies that have invested in thorough safety documentation may gain a competitive advantage once authorizations are finalised.