EU Novel Food Approval for Eggnovo Eggshell Hydrolysate Opens New Ingredient Category
Eggnovo's enzymatically produced eggshell membrane hydrolysate secures EU Novel Food approval, enabling its use in food supplements for adults up to 500 mg daily from 23 July 2026. The approval includes five years of data exclusivity, offering a critical competitive advantage.
London, United Kingdom — 28 July 2026
The European Commission has formally approved Eggnovo’s enzymatically produced eggshell membrane (ESM) hydrolysate as a Novel Food for use in food supplements across the European Union. This approval, effective from 23 July 2026, permits its inclusion in formulations for the general adult population, with a maximum daily intake of 500 mg. The ingredient’s nomenclature has also been updated from “egg membrane collagen peptides” to “egg membrane hydrolysate (enzymatically produced),” reflecting its broader protein and bioactive compound profile beyond just collagen.
Eggnovo, who submitted their application in 2022, secured this approval after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded the ingredient to be safe for healthy adults, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women. A significant commercial advantage comes with this approval: Eggnovo has been granted five years of proprietary data protection. This means they hold exclusive rights to use the approved scientific research supporting this ingredient until 23 July 2031, effectively establishing a competitive moat for market entry with this specific Novel Food.
While this approval expands ingredient options, it also coincides with ongoing regulatory enforcement regarding product claims and authenticity in other markets. For instance, a US federal court recently issued default judgments against 19 online sellers of fraudulent Urolithin A products, awarding Timeline (Amazentis SA) over $5.3 million in damages. This action underscores the growing scrutiny on ingredient integrity and the commercial risks associated with unverified or counterfeit raw materials.
Concurrently, the broader probiotics sector is witnessing a shift towards enhanced traceability and functionality. Taiwanese firm TCI highlighted at the Growth Asia Summit 2026 that the future of probiotics lies not just in ensuring viability until intestinal arrival but in tracing biological outcomes. Lucas Chang, TCI's R&D Manager (Human Microbiome), emphasised designing probiotic strains based on desired health outcomes, defining the ‘microbial job’, and then constructing the delivery mechanism. This strategic shift points towards more differentiated, evidence-backed probiotic formulations, moving beyond generic viability claims to specific functional benefits.
What this means for United Kingdom
UK brand owners can now consider incorporating Eggnovo's eggshell membrane hydrolysate into new food supplement formulations, leveraging its Novel Food status within the EU, which often mirrors UK regulatory direction post-Brexit. Compliance with the 500 mg daily dose limit and the 'healthy adult' demographic is critical. The five-year data exclusivity for Eggnovo presents a supply chain consideration, as alternative sources for this specific Novel Food approval will not emerge until mid-2031 without independent data. Manufacturers should also note the broader industry trend towards stringent ingredient verification, highlighted by the US Urolithin A case, urging robust supplier due diligence and quality control to mitigate associated brand and compliance risks.
Brand owners increasingly rely on contract-manufacturing partners such as Supplement Factory to navigate these requirements.