Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's Government Food Strategy, published on 13 June 2022, what progress his Department has made in developing dedicated guidance materials for companies developing novel foods and processes; and when she plans to publish that guidance.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned a wholesale review of the Novel Foods Regulatory Framework, identifying and critically evaluating a range of potential regulatory models, taking into account the UK regulatory landscape and drawing on international best practice and stakeholder views.

The review is due to be completed by spring 2023 which will help inform guidance for novel food applications and stakeholders, later in 2023.

The FSA is also working towards developing a new Regulated Products (RP) application system, which the FSA hopes to be in operation by Spring 2023. The new system will provide applicants more support at the front end of the service and there will be a number of steps prior to applicants submitting a new application to help them establish what information is essential for their application to progress. In addition, the development of a new landing page will provide more sophisticated step-by-step guidance to assist applicants and will offer direction to other FSA business areas should a RP application not be the most appropriate action.