novel genetically modified food products ie. A processed food product whose composition has been altered.

a) a substance, including a microorganism, that does not have a history of safe use as a food; b) a food that has been manufactured, prepared, preserved or packaged by a process that has not been applied before to that food, and causes the food to undergo a major change; or c) a food that is derived from a plant, animal or microorganism that has been genetically modified.

a food which has not been used to a significant degree within the European Community and which falls under one of a number of categories defined in Regulation 258/97

Any plant or animal product intended for use as a food that does not have a history of use as a food sufficient to evaluate its safety, or has been manufactured, preserved or packaged in a way not previously applied to that food and which causes a significant change in the properties of the food, or a food derived from a plant, animal or micro-organism that has been genetically modified to differ significantly from the unmodified form.

"Novel food" as defined in the Novel Food Regulation 258/97 are all new food and food products. Originally this included GM foods, but since 2003 GM foods are approved under the regulation 1829/2003.

Novel food is defined as a type of food that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union prior to May 1997.