 EU allows a fifth form of protein hydrolysate to be used in infant and follow-on formula
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2017 amends Regulation 2016/127 to authorise an additional (fifth) form of protein hydrolysate that could be used in the manufacture of infant and follow-on formula.
The Regulation (EU) 2025/2017 came into force on 1 January 2026 and amends the Annex of EU Regulation 2016/127 to include the additional authorised form of protein hydrolysate.
Each form of protein hydrolysate has their own unique requirements on content, source, processing and quality of proteins manufactured from hydrolysates.
EU launch consultation on food and feed safety simplification process
The EU have launched a consultation on a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council to simplify and strengthen aspects of EU food and feed safety legislation.
The simplification proposals published in December 2025 contain legal clarifications and procedural simplifications in a on a range of areas. This includes changes to the current requirement that feed additive authorisations go through a renewal process after ten years and explicit confirmation that food and feed fermentation products obtained using genetically modified microorganisms as processing aids are excluded from the definition of “produced from GMOs”.
The consultation is open until 13 April 2026. Feedback from the consultation will be provided to the European Parliament and Member State governments in the Council of the EU, who must agree the proposal before it can become law.
European Commission proposes new Biotech Act
The European Commission has proposed a new Biotech Act, including changes to food legislation. It proposes that the European Food Safety Authority expand the guidance it provides to companies applying to sell new products, allowing startups to request advice from regulators on the information their applications needs to improve. It also introduces the concept of regulatory sandboxes. However, this excludes Novel Foods, feed, Food Contact Materials (except recycled plastics), and Genetically Modified Organisms.
A Commission consultation on the proposals is open until 14 April 2026. Feedback from the consultation will be provided to the European Parliament and Member State governments in the Council of the EU, who must agree the proposal before it can become law. Stakeholders must create an account to respond. The consultation will be of particular interest to food businesses in Northern Ireland who wish to apply to the EU for the authorisation of new regulated products.
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Source of folate authorised for use in food supplements and foods
The EU has approved the use of monosodium salt of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid as a source of folate in food supplements and foods. Tgus change was made through amending Regulation (EU) 2025/2224.
The ingredient remains under proprietary data protection until 30 April 2029 under Regulation (EU) 2024/1037, which authorised it as a novel food. After this date, other FBOs may place monosodium salt of L-5 methyltetrahydrofolic acid on the market in accordance with Regulation 2024/1037.
The Breakfast Foods (Amendment) Regulations
The Breakfast Foods (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 has been published. Amendments relate to rules on the composition, labelling and processing of honey, jams, jellies and marmalade, fruit juices and fruit nectars and dehydrated preserved milk. The new rules come into force on 14 June 2026. You can view the Regulations here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2026/5/contents/made.
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Publication of guidance on Listeria monitoring and shelf-life studies for ready to eat food
The Chilled Food Association (CFA) with input from Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) published new industry led good practice guidance on 12 January 2026.
The guidance is aimed at manufacturers and retailers of certain ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and provides practical advice to help food businesses manage the risk of Listeria monocytogenes in these products.
In addition, on 18 December 2025 the EU published their revised guidance on Listeria monocytogenes monitoring and shelf-life studies for ready-to-eat foods under Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
The guidance is published ahead of changes coming into force in the EU and Northern Ireland (NI) from 1 July 2026.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2895 amends Chapter 1, criterion 1.2.(b) of Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 in relation to Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).
End of EU Transitional Periods for Smoke Flavourings
This update is particularly relevant to producers of meat, cheese, processed fish, sauces, soups and snack products that use smoke flavourings.
In 2024, The European Commission (EC) published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2067 which removed all ten smoke flavouring primary products (SF‑001 to SF‑010) from the Union list of authorised smoke flavourings following the expiry of their authorisations on 1 January 2024 and the Commission’s decisions not to renew them due to safety concerns identified by EFSA.
Transitional arrangements were introduced to allow businesses time to adapt to the removal of the authorisations. The end of the first transitional period is rapidly approaching its end date:
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1 July 2026 for products where smoke flavourings are added solely to impart flavour, such as soups, snacks, sauces.
There is an additional transition period for products where smoke flavourings are used in place of traditional smoking, including cheese, meat, processed fish and fish roe – 1 July 2029.
Foods placed on the market before the end of the relevant transition period may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or ‘use‑by’ date. After these dates, foods containing any of the affected smoke flavouring primary products may no longer be lawfully placed on the EU/NI market.
We encourage industry stakeholders to begin preparations now to ensure readiness for full compliance by the end of the transition periods.
Under the Windsor Framework, pre‑packed retail goods moving to Northern Ireland through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme may continue to be placed on the NI market if they comply with the requirements of assimilated law.
Food additive regulations in Great Britain, including assimilated Regulation 2065/2003 and assimilated Regulation 1334/2008 remain unchanged.
We welcome any feedback from industry regarding changes on the removal of the authorisation for ten smoke flavourings coming into force by emailing infofsani@food.gov.uk.
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PFAS restriction transition period approaching under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
From 12 August 2026, Regulation (EU) No. 2025/40 will restrict the use of PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in food contact packaging placed on the EU market.
The intentional addition of PFAS will be prohibited. Packaging may only be placed on the EU market where PFAS levels are below the concentration limits set out in Article 5 of the Regulation (EU) No. 2025/40.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterised by strong carbon–fluorine bonds, which make them highly resistant to heat, water and grease and very persistent in the environment. Because they break down very slowly, they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.
In packaging and food contact applications, PFAS have historically been used to provide oil and moisture repellent properties, particularly in paper based and fibre packaging.
Northern Ireland
Food contact packaging lawfully placed on the market before 12 August 2026 may continue to be made available and sold until stocks are exhausted.
Products placed on the market on or after 12 August 2026 must comply with the PFAS limits set out in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40. Contact packaging lawfully placed on the market before 12 August 2026 may continue to be made available and sold.
Businesses placing food contact packaging on the EU or Northern Ireland market should use the remaining transition period to confirm that PFAS are not intentionally added, review legacy materials and coatings and ensure that evidence is available to demonstrate compliance with the PFAS limits in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 by 12 August 2026.
Great Britain
There is currently no specific PFAS maximum limit for foodcontact materials in UK assimilated law. However, businesses must still comply with the general safety requirements of assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, which require that foodcontact materials do not transfer substances to food in quantities that could endanger human health.
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Magnesium L Threonate authorised for use in food supplements
The EU has authorised Magnesium-L-Threonate (MgLT) as a source of magnesium in food supplements via Regulation (EU) 2025/2225 which came into force on 26 November 2025.
MgLT remains under proprietary data protection until 7 November 2029 as per Regulation (EU) 2024/2694, which authorised MgLT as a novel food. After this date, other FBOs may place MgLT on the market in accordance with Regulation 2024/2694.
EU amendments to Regulation on recycled plastics
The EU have published Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2269 which corrects Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 as regards labelling of recycled plastic, the development of recycling technologies and the transfer of authorisations. The regulation came into force 3 December 2025 with the requirement applicable in Northern Ireland under Windsor Framework arrangements.
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EU Proposal on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)
In December 2025, the European Council and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to establish a legal framework for new genomic techniques (NGTs).
The proposal introduces a differentiated regulatory approach for NGT plants. It aims to reflect scientific progress and innovation while maintaining a high level of safety. It sets out rules for risk assessment, labelling, traceability and authorisation procedures, distinguishing between NGT plants considered equivalent to conventional plants and those requiring stricter oversight.
Under the Windsor Framework, any changes to EU legislation regarding NGTs will apply to goods placed on the Northern Ireland market, except for eligible pre-packed retail agri-food goods moving from Great Britain under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. Northern Ireland businesses will continue to have unfettered access to Great Britain for qualifying goods.
We would welcome any feedback you can provide on the proposal or its implications, to help us understand what it means for you as a Northern Ireland stakeholder. Please share any comments or views by emailing NGT.NI@food.gov.uk.
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