Expert Network for Novel Foods Regulatory Challenges – UK's first collaboration cluster to support best practice and facilitate the regulatory approval journey of innovative food ingredients

正如政府在《生命科学技术评论的支持创新监管》中所承认的那样，通过新型食品加强英国经济创新的潜力是巨大的。在英国，新食品的审批过程需要专门的监管和科学专业知识，获得可靠的认证分析设施和对要求的清晰理解。建立所需的网络是具有挑战性的，特别是对中小型企业来说，他们往往拥有更有限的资源，而且对于第一次冒险进入新食品申请过程的大型企业来说也是如此。因此，正确评估一种新型食品的安全性所必需的科学档案的创建不仅可能比需要的时间长得多，而且质量也有限。对监管和科学要求理解不足的后果超出了财政负担，影响了整个创新生态系统，并可能阻碍经济增长。为了实现英国在创新研究设计和交付方面成为全球领导者的目标，支持食品创新者在新食品提交的监管之旅中变得越来越重要。该提案旨在开发一个项目，创建一个监管科学网络，成为英国第一个针对新型食品监管挑战的专家网络。该网络的主要目标是：*作为学习资源的中心枢纽，促进对关键信息的访问，并促进监管科学工具的开发。旨在改善对这些工具的访问，使公司更清楚地了解其特定成分所需的监管流程、数据要求、风险和安全评估，最终提高档案的质量。*促进食品和配料创新者与该领域的专家和服务提供商的联系，包括分析和技术组织、规模扩大和生产设施、专家顾问和研究机构。*促进与监管机构的积极交流，提供对行业挑战、新兴技术的见解，并进行水平扫描。补充监管机构可获得的信息，以进行知情和数据驱动的决策，将使监管机构能够灵活和适度地应对创新。该网络将有助于政府的目标，即使这一过程更具协作性和透明度，并为新技术和产品迅速进入市场提供更顺畅的途径。它将吸引食品公司、服务提供商、学者和监管机构，促进公开对话，共同推进新型食品的监管科学。

The potential for enhancing innovation in the UK economy through Novel Foods is significant, as acknowledged by the government in the Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review -- Life Sciences. The process for Novel Foods approval in the UK demands specialised regulatory and scientific expertise, access to reliable certified analytical facilities and a clear understanding of the requirements. Building the required network is challenging especially for SMEs, who tend to have more limited resources, but also larger enterprises venturing into the Novel Foods application process for the first time. Consequently, the creation of a scientific dossier necessary to assess the safety of a Novel Food correctly may not only take significantly longer than need be but also be of limited quality. The repercussions of a deficient understanding of regulatory and scientific requirements extend beyond financial burdens, affecting the overall innovation ecosystem and potentially stunting economic growth.To fulfil the UK's goal of becoming a global leader in innovative research design and delivery, it is increasingly important to support food innovators on their regulatory journey for Novel Foods submissions. This proposal aims to develop a project for the creation of a regulatory science network to be UK's first Expert Network for Novel Foods Regulatory Challenges.The main objectives of the network will be to:* Serve as a central hub for learning resources, facilitating access to critical information, and promoting the development of regulatory science tools. Aim to improve access to these tools, empowering companies with a clearer understanding of the regulatory processes, data requirements, risk, and safety assessments necessary for their specific ingredient(s), ultimately enhancing the quality of dossiers.* Promote connections for food and ingredient innovators with experts and service providers in the field, including analytical and technology organisations, scale-up and manufacturing facilities, expert consultants, and research institutions.* Foster a positive exchange with regulatory authorities, offering insights into industry challenges, emerging technologies and conducting horizon scanning. Supplementing information accessible to regulators for informed and data-driven decision-making will enable agile and proportionate regulation in response to innovation.The network will be feeding into the government's aim of making the process more collaborative and transparent, and to provide smoother pathways for swift market entry of new technologies and products. It will engage food companies, service providers, academics, and regulators, to foster an open dialogue to advance regulatory science for Novel Foods collaboratively.