Czech Republic made EU Novel Food Catalogue Legally Binding

    The Czech Republic has made the European Commission’s Novel Food Catalogue legally enforceable under national law.

    As of April 1, 2025, it is illegal to market any product classified as a “Novel Food” in the catalogue, except for those designated as “Not Novel” in the category of Food Supplements. This change, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Czech Food Inspection Authority, follows a series of lawsuits from companies selling products in a legally ambiguous environment.

    This development raises questions about how a non-binding EU reference list has effectively become enforceable law. The European Commission clearly states that the Novel Food Catalogue is intended as a guidance tool that is regularly updated and is not legally binding.

This is a developing narrative; we will update it as new information emerges.