Morning, Thursday, 27th November 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for novel foods policy in the UK, with discussion expected to focus on innovation, regulation, public confidence, and routes to market.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the evolving regulatory environment, including the FSA’s Regulated Products Reform Programme and the introduction of the regulatory sandbox, designed to support approval of cultivated products. Sessions will examine recent developments in the authorisation process, including the transition to a public register, considering implications of these changes for approaches to transparency, evidentiary requirements, and practical implementation.
Delegates will discuss the potential impact of increased regulatory funding and recent initiatives under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, including the establishment of the Novel Foods Expert Network and grants for gene-edited food research. Attendees will consider what will be needed from established and developing support structures, infrastructure, and guidance to support the ability of businesses - including SMEs - to bring new products to market.
Issues relating to the alignment of UK regulatory frameworks with international counterparts will be assessed, including in the context of UK-EU cooperation, and the potential implications for safety standards and compliance processes.
Attendees will also look at wider stakeholder concerns around labelling, consumer confidence, and public response, including how awareness of production methods and health considerations could be improved, and implications for how products are presented and communicated. We expect discussion to examine roles and responsibilities across regulation, government and stakeholder groups in earning consumer trust and supporting uptake, alongside practical considerations for distribution, sourcing, and the integration of novel foods into existing supply and retail models.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- authorisation reform: implications of the updated market authorisation process and public register - removal of 10-year renewal requirements - faster approvals alongside regulatory confidence
- regulatory sandbox: early activity in the FSA’s sandbox for cell-cultivated products - clarity and accessibility of guidance - options for adapting the model to other novel food categories
- regulator roles:
- expectations for the FSA, FSS, and the RIO - clarity of roles across departments and agencies
- coordination between innovation support and public health oversight, including the FSA’s new Innovation and Regulation Plan
- CBD authorisation: status of upcoming ministerial decisions on CBD novel foods - wider implications for future product categories - role of advisory committees and stakeholder input
- international alignment: prospects for mutual recognition or equivalence agreements - EU relationship, including SPS discussions - implications for trade, competitiveness, and investment
- sector access: removal of barriers for SMEs and start-ups entering the novel foods space - support needs for R&D, infrastructure, and guidance - investment conditions and business readiness
- supply chain readiness: sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics - options for integrating novel foods into existing retail and food service networks - pressures on ingredients and distribution
- public engagement:
- supporting consumer trust - clear and accessible information - priorities for government, industry, and third parties
- labelling, standards, and assurance schemes - health metrics applied for novel or ultra-processed products
