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IPIFF welcomes the first Commission’s Implementing Regulation authorising lesser mealworm as a novel food

The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed is very pleased about today’s publication of the Commission’s Implementing Regulation authorising frozen and freeze-dried formulations of the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) as a novel food.

This novel food authorisation, based on the French by the company Proti-Farm, in January 2018 (the company name changed from ‘Proti-Farm Holding NV’ to ‘Ynsect NL B.V), is the first authorisation covering the lesser mealworm. The authorisation will come into effect on 26 January 2023.

Earlier this month (4 January), the European insect sector also welcomed the Commission’s Implementing Regulation authorising partially defatted whole house cricket (Acheta domesticus) as novel food. This authorisation, second for this species, derives from an application submitted by the Vietnamese company Cricket One.

For more information, please consult the IPIFF’s Press statement here and the Implementing Regulations here.