The European Parliament
approved a revised text on Wednesday to regulations governing
'novel foods', in order to make it easier to approve items for
consumption that are developed or produced using new
technologies and production processes.
Officially defined as "food not used for human consumption
in the EU to a significant degree prior to 15 May 1997" (when
the regulations were developed), so-called novel foods include,
among other things, food with an intentionally modified primary
molecular structure, food from micro-organisms, fungi and algae,
insects, plants, cellular or tissue cultures, and engineered
nanomaterials.
The revised text was approved with 359 yes votes to 202 no
votes and 127 abstentions.
Italy's Green Party protested the vote.
"The Parliament didn't live up to Europeans' concerns," it
said.
In order to take effect, the revision must also be approved
by the European Council.
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