(1)

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list may be placed on the market within the Union.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (2) establishing a Union list of authorised novel foods was adopted.

(3)

On 28 December 2018, the company Fair Insects B.V. (‘the applicant’) submitted an application to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 to place frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus (house cricket) on the Union market as a novel food. The application requested for whole Acheta domesticus in frozen, dried, and powder (ground) forms to be used as snacks and as food ingredient in a number of food products for the general population.

(4)

The applicant also made a request to the Commission for the protection of proprietary scientific data for a number of data submitted in support of the application, namely a description of the production process (3); results of proximate analyses (4); analytical data on contaminants (5); the results of the stability studies (6); the analytical data on microbiological parameters (7); information on the company sales of the novel food (8); the solubility test results of the novel food for the genotoxicity study (9); the results of the protein digestibility studies (10); and the cytotoxicity/cellular toxicity study (11).

(5)

In accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) on 4 September 2019, asking it to provide a scientific opinion by carrying out an assessment for frozen and dried Acheta domesticus as a novel food.

(6)

On 7 July 2021, the Authority in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 adopted a scientific opinion on the ‘Safety of frozen and dried formulations from whole crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (12)’.

(7)

In its opinion, the Authority concluded that frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus are safe under the proposed uses and use levels. Therefore, the opinion of the Authority gives sufficient grounds to establish that frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus under the assessed conditions of use fulfil the conditions for their placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(8)

On the basis of limited published evidence on food allergy related to insects in general, which equivocally linked the consumption of Acheta domesticus to a number of anaphylaxis events and, on the basis of evidence demonstrating that Acheta domesticus contains a number of potentially allergenic proteins, the Authority in the opinion concluded that consumption of this novel food may trigger sensitisation to Acheta domesticus proteins. The Authority recommended carrying out further research on the allergenicity of Acheta domesticus.

(9)

In order to address the Authority’s recommendation, the Commission is currently exploring the ways to carry out the necessary research on the allergenicity of Acheta domesticus. Until the data generated by the research is assessed by the Authority, and considering that, to date, evidence directly linking the consumption of Acheta domesticus to cases of primary sensitisation and allergies is inconclusive, the Commission considers that no specific labelling requirements concerning the potential of Acheta domesticus to cause primary sensitisation should be included in the Union list of authorised novel foods.

(10)

The Authority in its opinion also considered that the consumption of frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus may cause allergic reactions in persons that are allergic to crustaceans, molluscs and mites. Furthermore, the Authority noted that additional allergens may end up in the novel food, if these allergens are present in the substrate fed to insects. Therefore, it is appropriate that frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus made available to the consumer as such and foods containing them are appropriately labelled following the requirements in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(11)

In its scientific opinion, the Authority noted that its conclusion on the safety of the novel food was based on detailed description of the production process; results of proximate analyses; analytical data on contaminants; the results of the stability studies; the analytical data on microbiological parameters; information on the company sales of the novel food; the solubility test results of the novel food for the genotoxicity study; the results of the protein digestibility studies; and the cytotoxicity/cellular toxicity study, and also noted that it could not have reached that conclusion without the data from the unpublished reports of the studies contained in the applicant’s file.

(12)

The Commission requested the applicant to further clarify the justification provided with regard to their proprietary claim over those data and to clarify their claim to an exclusive right of reference to them in accordance with Article 26(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(13)

The applicant declared that they held proprietary and exclusive right of reference to data from the detailed description of the production process, results of proximate analyses, analytical data on contaminants, the results of the stability studies, the analytical data on microbiological parameters, information on the company sales of the novel food, the solubility test results of the novel food for the genotoxicity study, the results of the protein digestibility studies, and the cytotoxicity/cellular toxicity study, at the time they submitted the application and therefore third parties cannot lawfully access, use or refer to those studies.

(14)

The Commission assessed all the information provided by the applicant and considered that the applicant has sufficiently substantiated the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Therefore, the data from production process, results of proximate analyses, analytical data on contaminants, the results of the stability studies, the analytical data on microbiological parameters, information on the company sales of the novel food, the solubility test results of the novel food for the genotoxicity study, the results of the protein digestibility studies, and the cytotoxicity/cellular toxicity study, contained in the applicant’s file, on which the Authority based its conclusion on the safety of the novel food and without which it could not have assessed the novel food, should not be used for the benefit of any subsequent applicant for a period of 5 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Accordingly, only the applicant should be authorised to place frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus on the market within the Union during that period.

(15)

However, restricting the authorisation of frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus and the reference to the data contained in the applicant’s file for the sole use of the applicant does not prevent other applicants from applying for an authorisation to place on the market the same novel food, provided that their application is based on legally obtained information supporting such authorisation.

(16)

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(17)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,