Insect Producers Must Comply with Food Safety Regulations in the EU

Strategic Insights -

In the European Union, insect producers, like any other food business operators, are required to be registered and adhere to the same safety requirements and good hygiene practices as for any other food. This includes complying with Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, which is enforced by the competent authorities according to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded in its 2015 Scientific Opinion on the risk profile of insect production and consumption that, with proper management, a closed farm environment can eliminate parasite risks, and that freezing and cooking can eliminate risks altogether. The EFSA's findings are supported by the lack of reported zoonotic parasites in insects in the annual European Union One Health Zoonoses report, compiled by EFSA and mandated by Directive 2003/99/EC.

Key Takeaways:

  • Insect producers are subject to the same food safety regulations as other food business operators in the EU.
  • Registration and adherence to good hygiene practices are required, as per Regulation (EC) 852/2004.
  • Competent authorities enforce these regulations according to Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
  • The EFSA has concluded that proper management of a closed farm environment eliminates parasite risks.
  • Freezing and cooking can also eliminate parasite risks.
  • No zoonotic parasites in insects have been reported in the EU's annual One Health Zoonoses report.

Statistics:

  • 2015: EFSA's Scientific Opinion on the risk profile of insect production and consumption was published.
  • Since 2003: Directive 2003/99/EC has mandated monitoring and reporting of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in the EU.
  • 2023: The latest data available for the annual European Union One Health Zoonoses report.

Sources:

  • Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs. OJ L 139 30.4.2004, p. 1.
  • Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 07/04/2017, p. 1).
  • Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EC (OJ L 325 12.12.2003, p. 31).
  • Latest (2023 data) available at https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9106. Last updated: 12 May 2025