Amendment to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods

The European Parliament has objected to a new definition of 'engineered nanomaterials' proposed by the Commission for use in food labelling. The Parliament believes this definition is not protective enough of consumers and may not align with scientific progress.

This new definition affects food ingredients that are manufactured at the nanoscale. If a food ingredient is classified as an 'engineered nanomaterial' under current rules, it must be labelled as '[nano]' in the ingredient list, helping consumers make informed choices.

The Commission's proposed definition included a threshold of 50% or more particles at the nanoscale. The Parliament argues this threshold is arbitrary and less protective than definitions used by some Member States, potentially excluding many nano-substances from mandatory labelling.

The Parliament previously objected to a similar definition in 2014 and has cited scientific bodies and consumer organisations that recommend a lower threshold, such as 10%, for identifying nanomaterials in food due to potential health risks.