New rules and rising risks challenge food safety

Food safety in the Netherlands? Still solid. But developments are piling up, and the food industry has to stay alert. Regulations are tightening, public concerns are growing, and oversight is under pressure.

Reporting duties, labs and the BES islands

Since 2022, companies have been required to report any (potential) food safety risk to the NVWA within four hours. That rule helps, especially when companies are slow or reluctant to share information. At the same time, it creates time pressure and confusion. That’s why the government wants to clarify the reporting process and offer better support.

There’s also a proposal for mandatory reporting by laboratories. This would give the NVWA direct access to any limit breaches found in company-commissioned analyses. For animal feed, this is already in place. And: a study is being launched to examine how private labs could be used for import checks on fresh food.

On the BES islands, food safety often falls short. Oversight is hindered by outdated legislation. So, together with the island authorities, the government is working on a legal update.

New rules, new questions

Some rules have already been introduced: PFAS limits for meat, fish and eggs. A ban on smoke flavorings. Stricter requirements for the sale of raw milk. More changes are on the way, including regulations on MOAH, herbal preparations and dietary supplements.

Meanwhile, innovation is shaking things up. Tasting sessions with cultivated meat have taken place, with similar plans for fermentation-based products. The approval process for ‘novel foods’ is under scrutiny. Research is also underway into whether blood values could serve as an indicator for PFAS in meat, potentially usable for other substances later on.

Climate puts food safety to the test

Recycled packaging, reusing wash water... steps towards a more sustainable system. But what does that mean for food safety?

Climate change itself brings new risks. Think: higher toxin levels in food, faster spoilage, more contamination. The NVWA faces tough choices, more standards, more sensitive testing, but less funding. As a result, there will be fewer checks on pesticide residues and public events, for example.

The Dutch government intends to raise these dilemmas at the European level too.