The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s work on the circular bioeconomy and sustainable feed

A circular bioeconomy seeks to make efficient use of biological resources and upcycling by-products, side streams, and waste into valuable inputs such as animal feed or fertilising products.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority plays a key role in ensuring that this development protects food safety, animal health and welfare, and the environment.

Feed regulations – ensure that animal feed is safe and meets nutritional needs.

Animal by-products regulations – set hygiene standards for handling material of animal origin not intended for human consumption, preventing the spread of disease to both animals and humans.

Fertiliser regulations – establish requirements for fertilising products and their application.

Much of our work involves long-term processes, such as inquiries, public consultations, and political decision-making. This is especially the case for EU regulations, which must be workable for all member states and apply across diverse legal systems, societal contexts, and environmental conditions.

These regulations often overlap and interact, and each is complex in its own right. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is organised into a directorate and an inspection body, working on these issues at both levels. One of our inspection divisions includes a Department for Feed and Circular Bioeconomy, while the directorate has established a multidisciplinary team that brings together experts from across these fields of expertise.

We promote the safe use of sustainable and circular biological resources in feed and fertilising products

To achieve this, we work through regulatory initiatives and close collaboration with industry stakeholders and the research community by

• identifying where regulations and services need to be improved or updated
• providing clear regulatory guidance and necessary clarifications
• emphasising the importance of robust scientific evidence, and
• shaping regulations that foster more sustainable food systems while ensuring the safety of people, animals, plants, and the environment

The mission’s goal is for all feed used in aquaculture and livestock production to come from sustainable sources, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across the entire food system.

To support this goal, the government has established a steering group that serves as an advisory body, providing strategic guidance and recommendations to authorities and industry. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is represented in the group and plays and active role in its work.

More about the social mission of sustainable feed

The latest information about the mission is available on the Research Council of Norway’s webpage Sustainable feed (forskningsradet.no).

In discussions on the circular bioeconomy, requests for regulatory change are frequent. This page explains the Authority’s role and approach in developing such regulations.

Fundamental principles of European food safety

The General Food Law Regulation states that “a high level of protection of human life and health shall be ensured in all Union policies and activities.” Regulation is one of the key tools used to address identified hazards. The purpose of food safety legislation is to manage risks to public health, animal health, and the environment.

Where scientific knowledge is insufficient, legislation is guided by the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle enables regulatory development

When regulations are based on the precautionary principle, there is a greater flexibility to introduce changes. However, four conditions must be met

• relevant scientific evidence must be available
• a positive risk assessment from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) and/or EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority
• support must be secured from other EU member states (for EEA regulations), and
• Norwegian and/or European legislators must be willing to amend the regulations

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s role in regulatory development

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority plays a central and coordinating role in developing food regulations.

Dialogue with industry

Regulatory development often begins with dialogue with industry representatives. This helps identify areas where existing regulations may hinder development or innovation. At the same time, we are committed to providing tailored guidance to businesses of all sizes – from start-ups to established companies and groups.

Dialogue with the research community and funders

Once industry input has been reviewed internally, we share identified knowledge gaps with the research community and funding bodies. The aim is to ensure that research calls support applied research that informs regulatory decisions and provides the knowledge and evidence needed to underpin future regulatory changes.

Dialogue with other authorities

In parallel, we maintain a continuous exchange of knowledge and experience with other authorities, both in Norway and across the EU.

Insights from national and international research are actively applied to the regulatory development process.

Regulatory changes – just the tip of the iceberg

Regulatory changes are only the most visible tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies extensive work – dialogue, evidence gathering, assessments, and procedures – that makes these changes possible.

Examples of our work

We address a wide range of technical and regulatory issues linked to the circular bioeconomy and sustainable feed, including:

• feed substrates for farmed insects
• recycling phosphorus for use in feed and fertilising products
• feed ban relaxations
• maximum levels of undesirable substances in animal feed and the need to regulate new substances
• maximum content of feed additives
• the definition of fishmeal
• production of feed materials from microorganisms
• hygienisation of fish sludge
• use of fish sludge as a raw material in CE-marked fertilising products, and
• export of organic fertilising products to the EU/EEA

We regularly publish guidance on these topics so stakeholders can stay up to date with the latest developments.

Circular economy and sustainable feed