Edible insect firms call for end to Brexit food law confusion
Businesses wanting to sell insects as food in the UK have warned they are in limbo because of post-brexit trade law confusion.
Ministers have been pressed to update food standards law to stop British traders falling behind their EU counterparts because of a lack of transition arrangements after Brexit, amid concerns some could be shut down.
The growing industry includes frontline food shops, meal delivery kit companies, and suppliers to major supermarkets, and has made an estimated £6 million revenue over the last decade.
The Woven Network, a trade body representing edible insect businesses, hopes that a decision from the Food Standards Agency in June will give them blanket approval to trade across the UK.
But until then they lie in limbo, with local food standards officials able to prevent companies from selling bug-based produce if they believe it is not safe to eat.
Maisie Paddon – who had hoped to sell insect based burgers, sausages and curries through her company Be Bugs at the Glastonbury Festival this year – believes this contributed to her inability to trade at the world-renowned music event, where competition for food stalls is high.
"We've got a five-star hygiene rating, which is great. But, of course we weren't surprised when we got our response from Glastonbury," the Woven Network member said.
"They had to contact my local authority, and they [the council] were of the understanding that insects are illegal."
Aaron Thomas, who runs meal kit delivery company Yum Bug from north London,
added: "There is always a risk that we will be shut down.
"We've only just had an inspection from our local Environmental Health Officer but... they might have a conversation with a different EHO or someone more senior in their office, that maybe has a different opinion on insects in general, maybe they haven't had as much experience and they tell them 'Actually no, I think you should be shutting the company down'."
Difficulties for edible insect traders began in 2018 when the EU introduced food regulations classing edible insects as a "novel food", meaning that they had to undergo new safety checks, including in the UK.
Temporary arrangements were discussed by the bloc to allow the traders to sell their bug-based foods while permanent trading applications were made.
But when the UK officially left the EU in early 2020, no transition for edible insects had been agreed, and while traders on the continent have since been given the green light, UK traders have not.
A decision from the Food Standards Agency which may allow them to trade across the UK on a temporary basis is expected in June.
Labour MP Stephen Timms raised the issue with the government of a transitional arrangement for edible insects on behalf of traders.
Michael Wight, head of food safety policy at the FSA, said: "We are working hard to support and advise businesses and trade bodies so that they can provide high quality dossiers and evidence as part of their novel foods applications."