In recent years, growing concerns around the sustainability and environmental impact of conventional protein sources, combined with the need to secure sufficient protein supply to meet the increasing demand in a growing global population have driven significant interest in alternative proteins.
When it comes to animal feed, one protein source attracting great scientific and commercial interest is insect protein. Insects offer a combination of nutritional quality, production efficiency and environmental sustainability that sets them apart from other alternatives. From a nutritional standpoint, insects are a rich source of high-quality and digestible protein. From a production standpoint, insects are efficient converters of organic matter that require less land, water and feed than conventional livestock to produce an equivalent unit of protein.
The recognition of insect protein’s potential has been reflected in policy over the past decade, with a series of regulations expanding the scope of its authorised use. Yet commercialisation of insect-derived ingredients in animal nutrition remains governed by a complex and still-evolving regulatory framework that varies considerably between jurisdictions. This article provides a structured overview of the current regulatory landscape in the two most relevant markets: the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).
Regulatory Context in the European Union
In the EU, the first insect-specific authorisation came in 2017 with Regulation (EU) No 2017/893 which permitted the use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) derived from insects in aquaculture feed.1 This was followed in 2021 with Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 which extended the authorisation of insect PAPs to poultry and pig feed, covering seven species: Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), Musca domestica (common housefly), Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm), Alphitobius diaperinus (lesser mealworm), Acheta domesticus (house cricket), Gryllodes sigillatus (banded cricket) and Gryllus assimilis (Jamaican field cricket).2 Shortly after, Regulation (EU) 2021/1925 added Bombyx mori (silkworm) to the list, bringing to eight the total number of authorised species for insect PAPs.
