INSECT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
SFA said it has developed an insect regulatory framework that establishes guidelines for insects to be approved as food, “as the insect industry is nascent and insects are a new food item here”.
These guidelines apply to businesses intending to import, farm, or process insects into food or animal feed.
They stipulate that the insect species must be assessed to have a history of human consumption, contaminants must not be introduced in the farming and processing of insects and insect products, are farmed in regulated establishments with food safety controls, are not harvested from the wild and the final product must be safe for consumption.
Insects outside of the 16 approved species have to undergo evaluation to ensure that they are safe to consume, SFA added.
While there are currently no international standards for the sale and consumption of insects as food or animal feed, SFA’s guidelines “are developed following a thorough scientific review taking reference from countries and regions that have allowed the consumption of certain insects as food”.
The European Union and countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Thailand have allowed the consumption of certain insect species that tick several boxes for nutrition.
Companies selling pre-packaged food which contain insects as an ingredient are required to label the product packaging to indicate the “true nature of the product”.
Insect products, like other foods, are subjected to the agency’s inspection and surveillance, which include sampling for food safety testing, SFA said on its website.
“Food that is found to be non-compliant with SFA’s food safety regulations will not be allowed for sale,” it added.
