Why novel foods?



  • Novel foods are often mistaken for foods that only involve a high level of processing like precision fermentation or cell-based products. 


  • However, the scope of novel foods is much broader as it also concerns upcycled foods, microorganisms, fungi, algae or botanicals as well as their derived ingredients such as plant protein isolates or mycoprotein. 


  • Additionally, traditional foods from third countries can only be deemed novel foods like Bambara groundnut, a drought-tolerant legume native to sub-Saharian Africa or Patauá, a plant native to South America. 


Understanding whether and how your food ingredients could be considered novel foods is crucial to ensure a successful business strategy, especially for the European market. 

Why the European Union?


  • The European Union is a unique market as any approved product can de facto be sold in the 27 Member States!


  • This represents an untapped opportunity as it opens the door to a market size of half a billion consumers. 


  • Last but not least, EU-approved products can only be sold in third countries like those candidates to the European Union, EEA members, Switzerland, and countries that based their novel food regulatory framework on the EU one. 

Course curriculum

  1. Structure of the course

  2. Introduction - Fundamentals of EU food law

  3. Module 1 - History and definition of novel foods

  4. Module 2 - Determination of the novel food status

  5. Module 3 - Navigating the Novel Food Approval Process

  6. Module 4 - Data required for regulatory approval

About this course

  • €1.100,00
  • Designed for food professionals without a legal background
  • Self-paced to make it more accessible to an international audience
  • Course materials accessible on the platform for 4 months and then a PdF summary with all the resources except videos from the course

Learning Outcomes

Once you complete this course, you will be able to achieve the following:

  • To determine whether your ingredient is novel food or not

  • To navigate the EU novel food regulatory framework

  • To check which information is needed if you need to submit a novel food dossier

  • To keep yourself updated about the upcoming regulatory changes

Some of our clients

Forward Food Law is a food law consultancy based in the Netherlands with a global reach. 

We are pleased to count amongst our clients some of the trailblazers of the food and alternative proteins industry. 

Our clientele is diverse and comprises all the actors from the food supply chain, ranging from VCs, incubators, and accelerators to startups, multinationals and governmental agencies. 

FAQ

  • Why is the course self-paced?

    We have an international clientele spread across six continents. Students are given the flexibility to complete the course whenever they want to.

  • How is the course structured?

    The course is divided into 6 modules and contains an introduction to the fundamentals of EU food law. We ask you to follow the structure of the course instead of completing modules randomly.

  • Do I need a legal background to take this course?

    No, we have specifically designed this course for professionals without a legal background. The course is also suitable for foreign legal professionals.

  • How much time do I need to complete the course?

    The course can be completed in 15 hours. It is up to you to decide how you want to schedule your learning.

  • How long is the course available?

    Once the course is launched, it can be assessed for 4 months. 4 months is the time we chose as our clients fully digest the learnings around that time. After the 4 months, participants will be sent a PdF summary of the course.

  • For whom is the course not suitable?

    For university students, the knowledge gained through this course won't be useful to those without previous working experience.

  • Which currency do you accept?

    We only accept euros.

  • I signed up for the course but I changed my mind. Can I get a refund?

    No, as you get access to the entire curriculum once you sign up.

  • Will I receive a certificate of completion?

    Yes, a certificate of completion is granted when you finish the course.

Exclusive bonuses

Check out our exclusive bonuses to help you further navigate the EU novel food regulatory framework

  • An overview of the EU public policy landscape

    Food legislation is not created in an echo chamber. Companies and trade associations can influence the writing of regulations and collaborate with policymakers. In this module, you will discover how the EU public policy landscape functions.

  • How to access foreign markets with an EU novel food approval

    Although EU food law is meant to be applied to the territory of the European Union, its application actually transcends borders. Numerous countries with economic ties with the Union either automatically recognise EU novel food approvals in their territory or assess them under a lighter procedure. In this module, you will discover what are these jurisdictions and the conditions attached to an automatic approval.

  • Ongoing novel food assessments

    Keeping track of novel food assessments can be a tedious process as they are several steps part of the risk assessment and management process entrusted to different entities. In this module, you will understand which tool(s) you have to use to keep track of the assessment and their limitations.

Media coverage

Passionate about making food legislation more accessible, Mathilde currently gathers a following of more than 10800 people on LinkedIn and was awarded the "Top Voice Food Science" award in January 2024. 

She also writes a monthly tribute for vegconomist.com and is regularly interviewed to discuss food regulatory matters on podcasts. 

Mathilde giving an international food law workshop - Brussels, 2023. 

Assess the compliance of your ingredient today!

Enroll now

Social proof: testimonials

“It is always a pleasure working together with Mathilde, who has been my go-to contact for novel food regulatory questions over the last few months. She has been integral in providing overviews on regulatory processes, microorganism strain / GMO questions and making an overall confusing field simple to navigate. I have found her to be highly responsive, professional and reliable. It is refreshing to have such a knowledgeable and easy-to-work-with individual at the top of my contact list and I look forward to our continued collaborations.”

Bright Green Partners

“As a leading analytical R&D lab, we wanted to gain better understanding of novel food regulations and the latest guidance. The workshop content was discussed beforehand and tailored according to our needs. Contact and communication were smooth and easy. No matter how dense the workshop was, Mathilde managed to pique our interest, and create an awareness in our approaches to be more performant. Mathilde would be an asset to guide you in the fascinating world of novel food, as she did for us!”

RIC

“Mathilde clearly brings both deep subject matter expertise and personal drive to the novel foods sector. I would recommend her to companies navigating the overlooked intricacies of commercializing a novel food product across borders.”

Blue Horizon

“It is always a pleasure working together with Mathilde, who has been my go-to contact for novel food regulatory questions over the last few months. She has been integral in providing overviews on regulatory processes, microorganism strain / GMO questions and making an overall confusing field simple to navigate. I have found her to be highly responsive, professional and reliable. It is refreshing to have such a knowledgeable and easy-to-work-with individual at the top of my contact list and I look forward to our continued collaborations.”

Bright Green Partners

“As a leading analytical R&D lab, we wanted to gain better understanding of novel food regulations and the latest guidance. The workshop content was discussed beforehand and tailored according to our needs. Contact and communication were smooth and easy. No matter how dense the workshop was, Mathilde managed to pique our interest, and create an awareness in our approaches to be more performant. Mathilde would be an asset to guide you in the fascinating world of novel food, as she did for us!”

RIC

“Mathilde clearly brings both deep subject matter expertise and personal drive to the novel foods sector. I would recommend her to companies navigating the overlooked intricacies of commercializing a novel food product across borders.”

Blue Horizon

“It is always a pleasure working together with Mathilde, who has been my go-to contact for novel food regulatory questions over the last few months. She has been integral in providing overviews on regulatory processes, microorganism strain / GMO questions and making an overall confusing field simple to navigate. I have found her to be highly responsive, professional and reliable. It is refreshing to have such a knowledgeable and easy-to-work-with individual at the top of my contact list and I look forward to our continued collaborations.”

Bright Green Partners

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