The European Commission is signaling a desire to modernize how nanomaterials in novel foods are defined, sparking potential debates among food producers, regulators, consumer advocates, and EU policymakers. This could set off reactions from innovators eager for clear rules, industry players wary of tighter definitions, consumer groups demanding safety, and national authorities charged with enforcement.
This information comes from a report published on 4 February 2026 by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE). The report reviews the Commission's recent exercise of delegated powers under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods, particularly regarding adjustments to the definition of 'engineered nanomaterials' based on scientific progress.
The document is a formal report assessing the Commission’s delegated acts which sought to update the technical definition of engineered nanomaterials to align with a June 2022 Commission Recommendation and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) guidance from 2021. The most concrete legislative attempt—a delegated regulation adopted in March 2024 to update the nanomaterials definition with specific size thresholds and particle criteria—failed after the European Parliament objected in April 2024. Thus, the report neither introduces new binding legislation itself nor new mandates but advocates for extending the Commission’s delegated powers to update definitions in future.
From a policy perspective, the Commission emphasizes scientific alignment and coherence across EU legislation on nano-definitions, aiming to enhance consumer protection and transparency. However, the failed attempt reflects a tension between expanding EU regulatory powers at the Commission level versus parliamentary oversight—highlighting the cleavage over how nanomaterials should be regulated within the EU’s food market framework. The report stresses that maintaining the outdated definition risks excluding certain materials from nano-classification, potentially diluting consumer information.
Stakeholders face varied impacts: EU food producers and innovative sectors may encounter more clarity but greater compliance complexity if the definitions tighten; regulators gain clearer criteria enhancing enforcement consistency; consumers potentially benefit from improved transparency and safety assurance; meanwhile, the European Parliament asserts its supervisory role, objecting to perceived Commission overreach, thus protecting parliamentary prerogatives.
This report marks a continuation rather than a conclusion in the effort to refine novel food safety standards. The Commission appears poised to seek renewed delegated powers, while the European Parliament’s opposition suggests that further institutional dialogue and negotiation lie ahead before any updated definitions take hold.