The point is narrow and legal: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1507 is a Commission authorising act, not another scientific “green light” and not an opening of the entire mycoprotein category. From 26 July 2026 one specific novel food — Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium — may be placed on the EU market after inclusion in the Union list, in the categories and under the annex maxima.
1. What exactly did the Commission authorise?
Document 32026R1507 (ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1507/oj; EUR-Lex PDF: OJ:L_202601507) — Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1507 of 3 July 2026 — authorises the placing on the market of Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium and amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. Published in OJ L, 6.7.2026. Authorisation / list entry: from 26 July 2026 (entry into force on the twentieth day after OJ publication).
Applicant: The Protein Brewery B.V., Goeseelsstraat 10, 4817 MV Breda, Netherlands. Application filed on 16 May 2020 for Rhizomucor pusillus fungus biomass as a novel food (whole food, ingredient in food products, meal replacements for weight control, and food supplements).
The NDA Panel, in Safety of Rhizomucor pusillus biomass powder as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (EFSA Journal 2025; e9707, DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9707), adopted on 29 September 2025, concluded that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use.
2. What EFSA established (e9707) — safety, not a claim
According to the NDA opinion, Rhizomucor pusillus fungus biomass is safe under the proposed conditions of use for the proposed target population. Recital (7) of the act states that this opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that the product fulfils the conditions of Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
The NDA assessment addressed safety under the proposed conditions of use; Regulation 2026/1507 is the act that places this novel food on the list and opens the market under the annex conditions.
3. Categories and maxima (Table 1 of the annex)
The following levels come from Table 1 of the annex to Regulation 2026/1507.
| Food category | Maximum level |
|---|---|
| Breakfast cereals, and cereal-, fruit- or vegetable-based snacks | 30 g/100 g |
| Biscuits | 10 g/100 g |
| Cereal bars | 35 g/100 g |
| Dairy analogues except drinks | 20 g/100 g |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 10 g/100 g |
| Flatbread and steamed breads | 20 g/100 g |
| Chocolate confectionery | 15 g/100 g |
| Cocoa-based spreads | 20 g/100 g |
| Meal replacements for weight control for the adult population (as drinks) | Maximum 2 meals/day up to a maximum of 40 g/day |
| Food supplements (Directive 2002/46/EC), general adult population, excluding pregnant and lactating women | 6 g/day |
Labelling designation: “Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium”. Supplement labelling must state that they should not be consumed by persons under 18 years of age, and by pregnant and lactating women.
4. Specification (Table 2 of the annex)
The novel food is the biomass of the fungus Rhizomucor pusillus (strain CBS 143028), produced by fermentation; harvested, pasteurised to inactivate viable cells, dried and milled into a whitish odourless powder. Filamentous fungus of the Mucoraceae family.
Composition ranges (Table 2): moisture 4–7 g/100 g; crude protein (N×6.25) 44–68; total fat 4–8; total dietary fibre 25–39; digestible carbohydrates ≤3; ash ≤6. The annex also sets microbiological, heavy-metal (As, Cd, Pb, Hg ≤0.1 mg/kg) and mycotoxin limits (including aflatoxins <0.1 μg/kg; OTA <1.0 μg/kg; DON <150 μg/kg) — see the act for full figures.
5. Data protection until 26 Jul 2031
Under Articles 26 and 27 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 the Commission granted five-year data protection. Beneficiary: The Protein Brewery B.V. End date: 26 July 2031. Authorised from 26 July 2026.
Protected data include, as recited: identity of the NF, production process, compositional analysis, history of use, ADME, nutritional information, toxicological information, genotoxicity, subchronic toxicity study, human data and allergenicity.
During the protection period only The Protein Brewery B.V. may place this NF on the Union market, unless a subsequent applicant obtains authorisation without reference to the protected data or with agreement. This is procedural data protection, not absolute exclusivity for “any fungal mycelium” beyond this entry.
6. Novel-food authorisation ≠ health claim
Regulation 2026/1507 gives no basis for claims about “future protein”, satiety, microbiota or weight control. Novel-food status does not automatically exclude all claims — but it is not itself a claim basis. Any such statement needs a separate basis under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
7. Poland: GIS after EU authorisation
Union authorisation opens placing this NF on the EU market under the list entry. A notification to the Chief Sanitary Inspector (GIS) is not an additional novel-food authorisation. It is a separate duty linked to placing a specific product on the Polish market.
The product must match the entry: designation “Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium”, Table 1 category, maxima, specification compliance. On PL labels use the official list designation (scientific name as in the act) — not a fancy marketing name that replaces the list designation.
8. Conditions of compliance with the list entry
- Act and list — market access rests on Regulation 2026/1507 and the entry in 2017/2470; authorised from 26 Jul 2026.
- Name — list designation “Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium”.
- Categories — only those in Table 1 and under the stated maxima.
- Supplements — 6 g/day; labelling excludes persons under 18 and pregnant and lactating women.
- Data protection — until 26 Jul 2031 The Protein Brewery B.V.; a subsequent applicant may obtain its own authorisation on independent data or with agreement.
- Claims — the novel-food act is not a basis for health claims (1924/2006).
- GIS (PL) — notification of the specific product remains a separate national duty, not a second novel-food authorisation.
Conclusion
Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium has a full authorisation of a specific novel food and a Union-list entry under 2026/1507. The market for this entry is open from 26 July 2026, but conditional: Table 1 categories and maxima, The Protein Brewery B.V. data protection until 2031, and no automatic health claims. Authorisation opens lawful use of this ingredient under the list conditions — it does not open a “health” label and does not replace a GIS notification.
Primary sources
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1507 — Document 32026R1507; ELI eli/reg_impl/2026/1507/oj; PDF OJ L. Authorisation of Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium and amendment of list 2017/2470; authorised from 26 Jul 2026; data protection until 26 Jul 2031.
- EFSA NDA Panel. Safety of Rhizomucor pusillus biomass powder as a novel food… EFSA Journal 2025; e9707. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9707 — opinion of 29 Sep 2025; safety under proposed conditions of use.
- Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — novel foods; Arts 26/27 data protection.
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 — Union list of novel foods.
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 — nutrition and health claims.