Press Release
6 November 2024
The Protein Brewery
advocates for change:
Urging policymakers to reform regulations and accelerate market access for food innovations from pioneering food companies.
Breda (the Netherlands), 6 November 2024 – The Protein Brewery (TPB), an innovative developer of highly nutritious mycoprotein ingredients and the Dutch Animal Coalition hosted Member of the European Parliament Anja Hazekamp, Regional Council members, Breda Municipality officials, the Province of Brabant officials and representatives from industry associations (HollandBio, GFI and EuroGroup for Animals) for a work visit at TPB's production plant in Breda.
At a work visit, including a plant tour and discussions with key EU and Dutch policymakers, CEO Sue Garfitt and the Regulatory Affairs team of TPB, alongside other industry stakeholders, highlighted the urgent need for regulatory reforms to streamline the approval process for novel foods. With a focus on food technologies like innovative fermentation, the session highlighted how simplifying and accelerating regulatory processes is essential for creating a resilient, competitive, and sustainable food system in Europe.
As demand for sustainable food solutions grows, so does the urgency to streamline regulatory pathways that currently slow market entry for novel foods. Today’s regulatory processes are often complex, fragmented, unpredictable, and costly, leading to excessive delays that strain companies striving to innovate. These regulatory obstacles also impact the financial stability and competitive edge of pioneering food companies. Ensuring a level playing field in both conventional and innovative food markets is crucial to supporting a resilient, competitive innovative food sector within the EU and globally.
“An efficient regulatory environment for novel food ingredients is key to building an even more sustainable food system and supporting the EU’s leadership on the path of a green transition through the European Green Deal. Clear and streamlined regulations will help speed up progress towards these important goals," said Sue Garfitt, CEO of TPB. Simplified regulations help attract investment, lower market barriers, and make sustainable foods more accessible to consumers. While markets like Singapore and the United States offer significant opportunities for our company to meet current production demands, we face delays in key regions such as the European Union and the United Kingdom."
Officials praised TPB’s notable progress, highlighting the team’s professionalism, commitment to sustainability, and readiness for scale-up. They acknowledged that inconsistent regulations across regions are hindering advancements, creating a need for faster, harmonized processes to support fair competition and foster innovation. The attendees urged MEP and regional officials to champion regulatory reforms that emphasize efficiency, sustainability, and investment in novel food technologies. Addressing these regulatory gaps, they believe, will not only remove barriers for pioneering companies like TPB, and its ability to contribute to the food system whilst also strengthening the EU’s role in building a resilient, competitive sustainable food system.
TPB has submitted a novel food dossier on their next-generation protein food ingredient Fermotein® to regulatory authorities worldwide. With the Singapore Food Safety Authority’s approval and self-affirmed GRAS status in the US for the use of Fermotein® in human food, TPB is now prepared to broaden its operations. While progress in the EU is ongoing, there remains an opportunity to enhance the speed and efficiency of regulatory processes to avoid delays and foster a more competitive environment for innovation.
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For further information:
The Protein Brewery
Roxanne Snijders; T: +31 (0)76 209 1000
info@theproteinbrewery.nl
About The Protein Brewery
The Protein Brewery (TPB) is an innovative developer of plant-based, highly nutritious food ingredients, driving the transition to other food sources across the globe with innovative fermentation technologies. The company was founded in January 2020 as a demerger of BioscienZ BV and is commercializing highly nutritious, healthy, and sustainable food ingredients. The company has access to a broad toolbox including Molecular Biology, Fermentation, Analytical tools, Down Stream Processing technologies, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs.
TPB is headquartered in Breda, the Netherlands, working with a team of over 35 professionals. Further information: www.theproteinbrewery.nl