Authorising the use of insect protein as food and animal feed

10.10.2016

Question for written answer E-007650-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Martin Häusling (Verts/ALE)

The European Food Safety Authority has given the green light for protein production using insects, and the Commission is already funding a research project in this area. However, Regulation (EU) No 999/2001 and its annexes currently authorise the use of processed animal protein only in the form of fish meal as animal feed for non-ruminant farm animals. Start-up companies in Spain and Belgium are already producing protein from the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as the basis for animal feed. There are as yet no uniform European rules on this matter.

1. Does the Commission have information on European companies that produce protein from black soldier fly larvae as the basis for food or animal feed, and if so, can it say how the countries in question have dealt with the issue of authorisation thus far?

2. When will the scope of the regulation referred to above be extended to cover insect protein?

3. Are there rules (e.g. with regard to hygiene) that prevent the use of discarded fruit and vegetables for insect farming? If so, are there already plans for new rules designed to eliminate obstacles to such use?