Regulatory ‘deadlock’ stalls edible insect progress

A regulatory deadlock exists between the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the country’s edible insects industry, deterring growth while putting established and fledgling businesses at risk.

That’s according to one of the UK’s largest edible insect providers, Horizon Edible Insects, which has claimed the FSA has knowingly delayed industry progress.

“This isn’t simply a delay – it’s a deliberate silence on all fronts,” says Horizon Edible Insects co-founder Tiziana Di Costanzo.

The FSA has been accused of not engaging with the public. And the industry, which has the most to lose, is having to push for processes that should already be progressing or in place. “This isn’t transparency, it’s a strategic silence,” says Di Costanzo.

Without a full approval system in place, British consumers were “being left in the dark” and unknowingly buying insect-based products that haven’t undergone full safety assessments, while the organisation responsible for this, the FSA, “remains silent”.

This follows a sweeping ban on edible insects by the FSA in the UK five years ago, brought about due to a “lack of safety data”. Two years later, however, the ban was overturned after a BBC News exposé led the FSA to admit the decision was made “in error”.

Consumers ‘left in the dark’ over edible insectsBut the sector continues to face delays as the FSA “neglects” the essential safety assessments needed for market approval, says Di Costanzo.

“Despite the fact that edible insects have not been fully evaluated for safety, the FSA’s temporary legal framework, introduced in 2022, allows certain insect species to remain on the market,” they add.

The co-founder also goes on to claim industry representatives are not coming forward to comment on the issue due to “fear of backlash” from the FSA; investor concerns; or wanting to appear “aligned” with future government interests with a view to securing funding down the line.

“As an independent food safety regulator, the Food Standards Agency operates with the highest standards of integrity, transparency and openness,” says FSA deputy director for innovation policy Tom Vincent.

The organisation’ regulated product authorisation processes were robust, evidence-based and assessed all applications fairly on merit and regardless of any public statements, he says.

The situation, however, “is compounded by the FSA’s failure to meet its own deadlines”, continues Di Costanzo. “According to the FSA’s novel food guidelines, application validation should take no more than a month, with safety assessments completed within 17 months.

“Yet, many of the dossiers have been sitting idle for years, with repeated requests for more information adding to the delays in the safety assessment.”

FSA’s novel food guidelines for insectsOn delays, Vincent says applicants should provide quality data that supports the assessment and authorisation process, “to progress through the process”.

Where a novel foods application has been made before the end of 2023, the edible insects can remain on the market in Britain until a decision is reached on their application.

In January last year, the FSA updated guidance for businesses on the authorisation of edible insects for novel foods. These included four types: yellow mealworm; house cricket; banded cricket; and black soldier fly.

Businesses seeking to market and sell other species of edible insects are required to make a novel foods approval application. As with all applications, if credible evidence that a product is not safe is found, approval will not be given.

When a submitted application is validated, a product will be listed on the register of regulated products applications.

“The FSA remains firmly committed to supporting innovation in the food sector, including emerging areas such as edible insects, while ensuring that our paramount responsibility to protect public health is upheld,” adds Vincent.

“Our thorough scientific assessment processes are designed to ensure food is safe for consumers before it reaches the market.”