Migratory locust as new EU food: what food companies must review

Key data

If your company operates in the edible insects sector, there is a regulatory correction you need to know about. The European Commission published on 8 September 2026 a correction to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975, which previously authorized the marketing of Locusta migratoria in frozen, dried and powdered forms as a novel food in the European Union.

This correction does not open new authorizations or change the permitted product: it corrects specific errors in the technical details of the original authorization. However, those details are what determine whether your product complies with current regulations.

What does this regulation establish?

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 authorized in November 2021 the placing on the market of Locusta migratoria —known as migratory locust— in three specific presentations as a novel food in the EU:

• Frozen form
• Dried form
• Powdered form

This authorization is framed within Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods, which regulates the marketing in the EU of foods that did not have a significant consumption history before May 1997. The original regulation also modified Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, which is the Union list of authorized novel foods.

The correction now published rectifies technical errors detected in that original authorization. The aspects affected by the correction are:

To know the exact detail of each correction, it is essential to consult the full text of the correction in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

A regulatory correction may seem like a minor formality, but its operational consequences are direct. If your company markets Locusta migratoria and the labeling or storage requirements have changed from what you have implemented, you face a risk of regulatory breach.

The main operational impacts are:

• Labeling review: If the correction affects mandatory texts, allergen mentions or nutritional information, batches already produced or in stock may not be compliant.
• Storage conditions review: Changes in temperature, humidity or preservation conditions may require adjustments to facilities or internal protocols.
• Technical specifications update: Product documents, technical sheets and authorization records must reflect the rectified requirements.
• Risk of non-compliance: Operating with the parameters of the original regulation without incorporating the corrections may result in administrative penalties or product withdrawal from the market.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers and producers of food products containing Locusta migratoria in its frozen, dried or powdered forms.
• Importers of edible insects that introduce Locusta migratoria into the EU market.
• Distributors and marketers that place products based on this insect on the market.
• Quality and regulatory managers of companies in the alternative foods and edible insects sector.
• Advisors and consultants providing services to companies in the novel foods sector in the EU.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish company that imports and packages Locusta migratoria flour (powdered form) to sell it as a protein ingredient to manufacturers of snacks and sports supplements. This company obtained its marketing authorization under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 and designed its labeling and storage protocols in accordance with that original text.

With the correction published on 8 September 2026, the regulatory manager of that company must:

1. Download the text of the correction and compare it with the requirements it has implemented.
2. Identify whether the corrections affect its current labeling (for example, mandatory mentions or information format).
3. Verify whether the storage conditions it applies remain compliant with the rectified parameters.
4. Update technical sheets, internal documentation and, if necessary, redesign the labeling before continuing to market the product.

Failing to act is equivalent to operating with an authorization that no longer reflects current requirements, which exposes the company to inspections and possible penalties by food control authorities.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the complete correction published in the EU Official Journal (OJ:L_202690744) to identify exactly what errors have been corrected and in which articles or annexes.
2. Compare the rectified requirements with those implemented in your company: current labeling, documented storage conditions and technical product specifications.
3. Update internal documentation (technical sheets, storage procedures, labeling instructions) to reflect the corrected requirements.
4. Review stock in circulation and assess whether batches already produced or in distribution comply with the new parameters or require corrective action.
5. Inform the supply chain: suppliers, industrial customers and distributors must know about the changes if they affect contractual specifications or shared product sheets.
6. Consult a specialist advisor in food regulation if there are doubts about the scope of the corrections or about the impact on already granted authorizations.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in 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_202690744