EU 2026 Novel Food: egg membrane hydrolysate authorized for supplement manufacturers

Key data

Supplement and functional food manufacturers in the EU have had a new ingredient available since 3 July 2026 that they can legally incorporate into their products: enzymatically produced egg membrane hydrolysate. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1427 formalizes this authorization, amends the consolidated list of novel foods (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470) and establishes the specific conditions of use and labeling that must be met.

This ingredient is obtained from enzymatic processing of egg membranes, a fraction of the egg with potential nutritional and functional interest. The authorization follows the standard safety evaluation procedure of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which ensures that the ingredient has passed the scientific controls required by the EU's novel food regulatory framework.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/1427 has two specific regulatory effects:

• Authorizes the marketing of egg membrane hydrolysate (enzymatically produced) as a novel food throughout the European Union.
• Amends Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, which is the official and consolidated list of all novel foods authorized in the EU, to include this ingredient with its specific conditions of use.

Companies wishing to use this ingredient must comply with the labeling requirements and conditions of use defined in the regulation itself. These requirements determine in which product categories the ingredient can be used and how consumers must be informed.

Economic and operational impact

This authorization has a dual impact for companies in the sector: it opens a commercial opportunity and, at the same time, generates operational obligations that must be managed before launching any product with this ingredient.

On the opportunities side:

• Manufacturers of supplements, functional foods and nutritional products can now legally incorporate egg membrane hydrolysate into their ingredient portfolio throughout the EU.
• The ingredient can differentiate itself in the market as a component with European regulatory backing and scientific evaluation by EFSA, which provides credibility with distributors and consumers.
• Companies that were already working with this ingredient in the development phase or in non-EU markets can now accelerate its launch in the EU.

On the operational obligations side:

• Review and adapt the labeling of products incorporating this ingredient in accordance with the specific requirements of the regulation.
• Verify that the conditions of use (product categories, dosage, applications) comply with what is authorized in Regulation 2026/1427 and in the updated list of Regulation 2017/2470.
• Update the technical and regulatory compliance documentation of affected products.

Who does it affect?

• Dietary supplement manufacturers that operate or wish to operate in the European market.
• Functional food manufacturers and nutritional product companies seeking to incorporate innovative ingredients with regulatory backing.
• Ingredient and raw material companies that supply egg membrane hydrolysate to the food industry in the EU.
• Importers and distributors of food products containing this ingredient from third countries.
• R&D, Regulatory and Quality departments of food companies managing regulatory compliance for new ingredients.
• Legal advisors and regulatory consultants specializing in European food regulation.

Practical example

A Spanish supplement manufacturer specializing in joint care has spent two years developing a range of products with egg membrane hydrolysate for joint health. Until now, it could not market them in the EU because the ingredient was not on the list of authorized novel foods.

With the publication of Regulation 2026/1427 on 3 July 2026 and its inclusion in the list of Regulation 2017/2470, this company can:

1. Begin the commercial launch process in Spain and the rest of the EU.
2. Adapt the labeling of its products to the specific requirements established by the regulation for this ingredient.
3. Communicate to its customers and distributors that the ingredient has official authorization from the European Commission backed by EFSA evaluation.

Without complying with the labeling requirements and conditions of use of the regulation, the company could not legally market these products in the European market, even though the ingredient is already authorized.

What should companies do now?

1. Review Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1427 to identify the specific conditions of use and labeling authorized for egg membrane hydrolysate.
2. Consult the updated list of Regulation 2017/2470 to verify in which product categories and under what conditions the ingredient can be used.
3. Assess whether current or in-development products of the company can incorporate this ingredient within the authorized uses.
4. Adapt the labeling of any product that will include this ingredient, ensuring compliance with the requirements defined in the regulation before commercialization.
5. Update the technical and regulatory documentation of affected products (technical sheets, product dossiers, declarations of conformity).
6. Inform R&D, Quality and Regulatory teams about the new authorization so they can incorporate it into their new product development processes.

Official source

View complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601427