The interplay between science, law, health and trade

The introduction of new foods into the European Union has been subject to strict regulations since the introduction of the Novel Food Regulation in 1997. New products must undergo extensive scientific testing and may not present a danger to consumer health. This applies to genetically manipulated crops such as corn, bananas and soy beans, but also to all products containing animal or vegetable ingredients. A separate regulation was introduced for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in 2001 and 2003.