Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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850. To ask the Minister for Health if he has concerns over the passing of EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/89 of 20 January 2025 authorising the placing on the market of UV-treated powder of whole tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7239/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Food safety policy is a priority for my Department, and this is informed by scientific advice from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland(FSAI) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) has been authorised as a novel food in the EU.

In the EU, the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 is a consumer protection safeguard to ensure that new innovative foods are only placed on the market if they are safe. Novel foods are foods which have not been consumed to a significant extent in the EU before May 1997. They can be newly developed, innovative food, food produced using new technologies and production processes, as well as food which is or has been traditionally eaten outside of the EU. The basis of the novel food legislation is that novel foods must be safe for consumers and properly labelled. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carries out safety assessments on novel foods based on information submitted by applicants.

I am satisfied that the EU only approves a novel food if, on the basis of the available scientific evidence, the components of the novel food, and the conditions of its use does not pose a safety risk to human health.