Regulation & policy

NI+EU reverses novel food decision on healthy aging ingredient SAMe

The European Commission has revised the novel food status of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) disulfate tosylate, recognizing the ingredient as non-novel for use in food supplements.

Across the Nutraverse: Accelerating EU novel foods, NZ explores natural health product rule changes, closing GRAS oversight gaps

This week’s brief tracks news that highlights the strategic importance of scientific substantiation, safety data, and regulatory readiness as increasingly important competitive advantages.

EU platform launched to accelerate novel food approvals

The Ministry of Future Affairs has launched a new platform to help companies navigate the EU’s novel food approval process and reduce delays, drawing on lessons from the UK’s regulatory sandbox for cultivated meat.

NI+Supplement sector rising, ‘safety needs to evolve with it’

Growing supplement use, novel ingredients, personalized nutrition and digital health advice are challenging safety frameworks in a fragmented global regulatory landscape, prompting greater discussion about the tools needed to foster regulatory coherence.

Across the Nutraverse: Dutch botanical restrictions, British supplement ads, precision fermentation, omega-3s move beyond fish oil, and HTBA buys Specnova

This week’s brief tracks news that highlights the stricter compliance requirements and stronger technology-based differentiation.

Regulatory review: USFDA’s gummy study, Australia’s rules on andrographis and more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (USFDA) assessment of gummy supplements production, Australia’s stricter rules on andrographis use and New Zealand’s upcoming revisions to its natural health products export policies are some of the latest updates...

NI+EFSA sets out scientific priorities for food safety, innovation and AI

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a roadmap for European food regulation over the next decade, outlining how food safety risk assessments should evolve in response to innovation, climate change and emerging technologies.

NI+Proposed Dutch supplement rule changes could force product reformulation

The Netherlands has proposed new restrictions on some plants and substances used in herbal preparations and food supplements, with the draft legislation open for consultation until Dec. 7, 2026.

NI+Thousands of supplement ads at risk of non-compliance, ASA investigation finds

Ads for wellness products and supplements often breach advertising regulations, according to a new, large-scale analysis by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).

NI+Botanical safety: Is Article 8 fit for purpose?

In the European Union, Article 8 procedures are used to evaluate, restrict and remove potentially unsafe ingredients from the supplement market, but its use in recent years has been the subject of controversy.

NI+Botanical Safety Consortium: Tools needed to decode the ‘most creative synthetic factories’

Botanicals are complex mixtures of chemical compounds with potent pharmacological and toxicological properties. They have been used for centuries as both food and medicine for therapeutic benefits but can also present safety risks.

Across the Nutraverse: NZ claims for exports, Amway vs FTC, Bio-K+ in the UK, Better Menopause, krill oil pulled from Aus retailers

This week’s brief tracks news that highlights the industry’s shift towards a future defined by stronger regulatory oversight, greater scientific substantiation, export-focused regulatory reform, and growing sustainability expectations.    

NI+‘Turning point’ for CBD as EFSA publishes first positive safety opinion

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its first positive safety opinion for a CBD novel food application, marking a turning point for the industry, but concerns remain over the commercial viability of its imposed low daily limit.

NI+UK food industry must band together to protect the health of the nation, experts say

With 9 million UK citizens heading for chronic disease by 2040, health has become a central focus for consumers, with 89% of households now prioritizing health and well-being, according to data from NielsenIQ (NIQ).

NI+Botanical adulteration on the rise despite 15 years of industry action

Adulteration is one of the most significant and persistent issues facing the botanical industry, and the issue appears to be on the rise, exacerbated by supply chain pressures, trade wars and climate change.

NI+FSA signals ‘major milestone’ in CBD novel food process: Should industry raise its hopes?

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has described its recommendation to authorize the country’s first CBD novel food applications as a “major milestone”, but industry observers question whether the move marks a genuine regulatory breakthrough or simply...

NI+Gnosis secures EFSA approval for novel glutathione form

EFSA has published a positive safety opinion on S-acetyl glutathione (SAG), a chemically modified version of glutathione designed to enhance bioavailability.

NI+Luxembourg introduces new MPLs for vitamins and minerals in supplements

Luxembourg has updated its food supplement regulations, setting new maximum permitted limits (MPLs) for certain vitamins and minerals used in food supplements.

NI+Could disappearing heritage diets hold new clues for nutrition innovation?

A newly launched global research initiative is investigating how disappearing heritage diets influence disease, metabolism, immunity and the microbiome, and whether those insights could lead to new health interventions.

NI+EHPM calls for a pragmatic approach to PPWR implementation for food supplements

The European Federation of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) has published a new position paper setting out the food supplement sector’s key concerns and recommendations regarding the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

NI+Science vs politics: Kiwi’s long road to EU health-claim approval

It took four years after Europe’s food-safety scientists backed green kiwifruit’s digestive-health claim for regulators in Brussels to approve it, raising the bigger question: What happens when the science is settled, but the politics are not?

NI+More protein, more fiber, more questions: What happens to gut health?

Protein and fiber are having a moment, and consumers are being encouraged to get more of both, from fortified foods and functional products to social-media trends and new approaches to weight management.

NI+Caelus next-gen live commensal bacterium gains EU Novel Food safety approval

A freeze-dried form of the gut bacterium Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106, developed by Caelus Life Sciences, has become the first live, gut-native bacterium of its kind to receive a positive EFSA safety opinion under the EU Novel Food Regulation.

NI+Supplements 101: What are peptides?

The surge in GLP-1 drug use has brought peptides from a niche research area into the mainstream, sparking growing interest across nutrition and health, but confusion remains about what they are and how they are regulated.

B12 campaign calls on industry to tackle UK awareness gap

The UK’s B-12 Alliance will take to parliament on September 10 as part of its campaign to raise awareness of widespread vitamin B12 deficiency and improve diagnosis and treatment in the UK.

EU Novel Food Catalog update on Echinacea exposes lack of clarity

The EU has confirmed that traditional Echinacea roots, herbs and teas are non-novel, but uncertainty remains around flowers, whole-plant preparations and the species Echinacea pallida.

ASA ruling on blurred reviews reveals strict criteria on claims

A new ruling from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over The Turmeric Co.’s use of blurred customer testimonials reinforces the agency’s strict stance on disease claims, reminding the industry that even implied treatment claims are off-limits.

NI+EU packaging and recycling rules now in force: Timeline for obligations

The EU regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) came into force on Aug. 12, introducing immediate and upcoming obligations that redefine how packaging must be designed, used, recycled and reduced across all EU countries.

NI+Can ‘Made in EU’ labels give European supplement brands an edge in China?

The ‘Made in EU’ label is gaining value in China’s nutraceutical market, but success will depend on combining European provenance with scientific credibility and an understanding of local consumers, say industry experts. 

NI+Amazon Spain blocks listings and suspends accounts in packaging compliance crackdown

Amazon Spain has triggered immediate blocks on listings and suspended accounts as it cracks down on producer responsibility compliance.

Sports nutrition experts discuss ‘more is better’ mindset following life-threatening overdose report

The sports nutrition industry has a responsibility to tackle the ‘more is better’ mindset through appropriate limits and warnings, experts warn, following a life-threatening case of supplement stacking and over-consumption.

NI+Safety in question: What is the future of berberine?

Earlier this year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that no safe intake level of berberine could be established, triggering a consultation to determine its regulatory status. Now, there is concern that this could lead to tighter...

Scientists and nutrition experts call for increased vitamin D threshold to “wake up officials”

The threshold for vitamin D deficiency in the UK should be doubled in order to rouse officials to take a preventative approach to health, according to a newly published paper by the health and nutrition expert working group ‘Act Now Vitamin D’.

ASA cracks down on Exhale Coffee’s longevity claims

The UK advertising agency, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has ruled against Exhale Coffee after finding that the brand made unauthorized longevity and anti-aging claims.

Nutra Healthspan Summit: First speakers announced!

The Nutra Healthspan Summit will land in London once again this November, bringing together leading academics, innovators, analysts and practitioners in the longevity space.

Guest article

NI+Europe to ban Bifidobacterium? Probably not

On July 3, the European Food Safety Authority released an external scientific report flagging six food ingredients as possible emerging risks. To the surprise (and panic) of many, one of these ingredients was the (entire) bacterial genus Bifidobacterium.

The Akkermansia Company secures new US patent for metabolic disorders

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued The Akkermansia Company (TAC) with a new patent, granting the company the exclusive right to market Akkermansia for metabolic disorders.

NI+Federal court bans 19 fake online urolithin A sellers, awards Timeline $5.3M

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has granted default judgments against 19 online sellers found to have marketed and sold nutritional supplements falsely advertised as containing urolithin A.

Eggnovo’s eggshell membrane ingredient receives Novel Food approval

The European Commission has approved Eggnovo’s enzymatically produced eggshell membrane (ESM) hydrolysate as a novel food for use in food supplements across the EU.

Across the Nutraverse: Ashwagandha in the EU, UK Novel Foods, NI USA Awards

Catch up with our weekly round-up of key news from across the Nutraverse.

NI+Mid-year 2026: Regulatory updates from Europe’s supplement industry

A series of major regulatory developments has reshaped Europe’s supplement sector in 2026, from landmark safety consultations and new packaging legislation to key decisions affecting health claims and novel foods.

UK’s Novel Foods Experts Network expands across Europe

The UK’s Novel Foods Experts Network (NFX UK) has secured $650,000 to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and expand its support across Europe.

NI+Ashwagandha armed with critical safety data as industry anticipates Europe-wide assessment

The ashwagandha sector has built a substantial body of clinical evidence that could prove pivotal if European regulators launch a safety review of the herb, experts agreed in a meeting held at the European Parliament this week.

NI+Five-year waits and rising costs: Is Europe’s Novel Food system holding innovation back?

Lengthy timelines, rising evidence requirements and regulatory uncertainty could be undermining Europe’s competitiveness in food innovation.

NI+Supplement industry pushes for flexibility ahead of new EU regulations

The European supplement industry is entering a period of regulatory change, with new requirements set to influence the sector’s future direction.

NI+Dietary fiber designed to slow weight gain receives novel food approval

A new dietary fiber has received novel food approval after six years of regulatory uncertainty, marking the start of its journey to commercialization.

NI+Timeline: Will authorities de-throne the King of Herbs?

On July 14, ashwagandha experts will meet with policymakers at the European Parliament to discuss the need for a science-led, proportionate and evidence-based approach to the botanical’s regulation.

Growing demand for evidence-backed fiber drives Myota’s $4.5m funding round

Patented prebiotic fiber blend Myota has raised $4.5 million in a Series A round led by venture capital firm PeakBridge to expand its clinically validated prebiotic fibre business. 

Cost analysis suggests probiotic use could have €10 billion impact

A 1% increase in probiotic use could have a €10 billion economic impact across Europe, according to a newly released socio-economic assessment (SEA) commissioned by IPA Europe.

NI+Supplement sector calls for delay to new EU packaging laws

The European Federation of Associations of Health Products Manufacturers (EHPM) is calling for a temporary derogation of new packaging laws for food supplements amid concerns around implementation timelines.