The FSA novel food consultation is open for food businesses and other stakeholders to comment on 16 applications, including proposals involving food supplements. Responses to the England, Wales and Northern Ireland consultation are due by 23:59 on 16 November 2026. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is running a parallel consultation for Scotland, with responses due by 24 November.
The proposals are not final market approvals. They cover new authorisations and changes to existing authorisations, and ministers will make the relevant decisions after considering the consultation responses and other factors.
FSA novel food consultation: what is included?
The FSA consultation, published on 21 September 2026, concerns 16 regulated-product applications for novel foods: six applications seek new authorisations and nine seek modifications to existing authorisations, with two applications relating to the same novel food. The list includes applications involving 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), 3’-sialyllactose (3’-SL), 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL), 6’-sialyllactose (6’-SL), lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), astaxanthin-rich oleoresin and DHA/EPA-rich oil from Schizochytrium.
Some applications propose use in food supplements; other applications concern proposed changes to the use, specifications or conditions attached to existing authorisations. The product, intended food category, production strain and proposed conditions differ by application, so businesses should review the relevant annexes rather than assume the consultation applies uniformly to every ingredient or supplement.
Why supplement and functional-food businesses should follow it
Novel-food authorisation is specific to the food and the terms in the applicable authorisation. A consultation is an opportunity to comment on proposed terms and does not itself permit a new use. Businesses assessing an ingredient should check its current legal status, authorised food categories, specifications, maximum use levels and labelling requirements for each market where they intend to sell.
The consultation may be relevant to manufacturers, brand owners, ingredient suppliers, importers, trade associations and laboratories supporting regulated-food businesses. Stakeholders are invited to comment on the proposed authorisations and risk-management advice, including labelling and other relevant factors. Any planned launch should be based on the authorisation and rules in force for the specific jurisdiction—not on a proposal that is still under consultation.
Jurisdiction and consultation deadlines
The FSA consultation is aimed at food businesses and stakeholders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulatory position is not identical across the UK: the FSA says Northern Ireland stakeholders will be kept informed, and Food Standards Scotland notes that, under current arrangements, businesses seeking a new authorisation for a regulated food product to be placed on the Northern Ireland market continue to follow EU rules. Companies should confirm the applicable requirements for their specific product and destination market.
For Scotland, FSS is running a parallel consultation on the same group of 16 novel-food applications. Its response deadline is 24 November 2026. The FSA deadline remains 23:59 on 16 November 2026. Stakeholders should use the consultation for the relevant authority and jurisdiction.
How to review the proposals
- Identify the application or applications relevant to your ingredient, product category and intended market.
- Read the authority’s risk-management recommendation, safety assessment and proposed terms, including any conditions of use or labelling provisions.
- Assess how the proposal could affect your product plans, technical feasibility, consumer information and supply chain.
- Submit comments through the appropriate consultation route before its deadline. The FSA provides an online response form and an email option if the form cannot be used.
- Continue to verify the current authorisation status before placing a product on the market; do not treat a consultation proposal as approval.
Official consultation documents
- FSA consultation: Authorisation of 16 regulated products (England, Wales and Northern Ireland stakeholder consultation)
- FSS parallel consultation for Scotland
News report based on the official consultation pages available on 2 November 2026. This article is for general information and is not legal or regulatory advice. Check the latest authority documents and obtain product-specific advice before making market decisions.
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