Food and life science contract research organisation RSSL has announced that it will establish what is said to be the UK’s first Novel Foods Expert Network for Regulatory Challenges (NFX UK).
To establish the network, RSSL has secured funding from the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK. NFX UK will be developed in partnership with Imperial College London and The Supplant Company, with three primary objectives:
- Act as a central hub for learning resources — The network will collate and develop central resources, providing industry with access to regulatory science tools. This will give companies a clearer understanding of regulatory processes, data requirements, risk, and safety assessments for novel food ingredients.
- Promote connections for novel foods innovators — NFX UK will enable collaborations between organisations in the novel foods sector, including scale-up and manufacturing facilities, analytical and technology organisations, consultants, and research institutions.
- Foster positive change with regulatory authorities — The network will inform decision-making for agile and proportionate regulation through positive exchange with regulatory authorities.
“Transformative potential”
NFX UK will work to accelerate the development and commercialisation of new food technologies and products, while supporting the UK government’s goal of establishing more streamlined regulatory processes for novel foods. According to RSSL, this work will be vital to make the UK a global leader in novel foods research, design, and delivery.
It was initially reported in 2023 that the UK government was considering reforming novel foods regulations, a step that could speed up the approvals process for products such as cultivated meat and fermented proteins. In March of last year, the country’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) agreed on new reforms to streamline approvals, including a public register of regulated products.
“We are proud to lead the creation of NFX UK,” said Jacinta George, MD & VP at RSSL. “At RSSL, we recognise the transformative potential of novel food innovation and are excited to support the vital cross-sector collaborations necessary to accelerate the delivery of more cost-effective, sustainable, and healthy food options.”
