Farming Innovation: botanicals, novel food notification and the concept of “derived from primary production”

Consumers’ interest in plant-based foods with beneficial effects has inflated the theme of botanicals. In addition to the absence of a definition, the topic presents several challenges that require resolution. The paper focuses in particular on a very specific aspect of the marketing of botanicals and botanical preparations: their placing on the market as novel food from third countries. After a very general introduction, the analysis pay attention to the notification procedure, as regulated by Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, breaking down the relevant provisions on their constituents (categories, history of safe food use, derivation from primary production, cutoff date), in order to offer food business operators support in deciding what procedure should be followed. Despite the opportunities that a notification can open for the market, the paper recognizes the limited chances that EU farmers enjoy with the novel food provisions.