Swiss Requirements, Microbiome Innovation and Ingredient Consolidation

What changes in Switzerland from 1 August—and which signals from EFSA and Tate & Lyle matter now

Numerous detailed changes to Swiss food law take effect on 1 August. Meanwhile, a new EFSA opinion advances a live microbiome ingredient through the European novel food procedure, and Tate & Lyle shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the planned acquisition by Ingredion. What manufacturers, retailers, product developers and Regulatory Affairs should know now.

Executive summary:

The most immediate task concerns the Swiss market: from 1 August, changes include pesticide maximum residue levels, flavouring and additive rules, and food-contact material requirements. Transitional periods vary. Companies should therefore review not only formulations, but also raw-material specifications, supplier declarations, packaging documentation and sell-through rules for each individual product.

For product development, EFSA’s opinion on Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106 is of interest. The live, freeze-dried microorganism is intended for adult food supplements. However, the scientific assessment is not yet an EU authorisation and does not permit health-related communication.

Ingredion’s planned acquisition of Tate & Lyle has progressed by a formal step. Completion is still expected only in the second half of 2027 and remains conditional. For customers, structured supplier and portfolio monitoring is therefore currently the most useful response.

Switzerland: many detailed changes, without a single transitional approach

Several revised annexes to Swiss food law enter into force on 1 August 2026. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) identifies, among other changes, approximately 830 amended pesticide maximum residue levels, around 600 of which become stricter. This aligns the values with those of the European Union. According to the FSVO, a six-month transitional period applies to these changes. [1]

Three additional flavouring substances are authorised, including naringenin. In additive law, rebaudioside M produced by fermentation with Yarrowia lipolytica is added as E 960b. At the same time, certain uses of thickeners and stabilisers in foods for infants and young children are removed or restricted. Potassium sorbate is also authorised in non-heat-treated plant-based mousse products at a maximum of 500 mg/kg. For many of these changes, the transitional period ends on 31 July 2027. [1]

Packaging and process documentation are also affected. Six additional substances are added to the positive list for food-contact materials. The revision also clarifies requirements for conformity testing and good manufacturing practice or quality assurance in recycling processes. The transitional period is generally one year; existing transitional provisions for bisphenol A have been adjusted. [1]

Practical significance

For formulations used across borders, stating ‘EU-compliant’ is insufficient. The current Swiss versions of the ordinances on pesticide residues, additives, flavourings and materials and articles remain decisive. [2][3][4][5] Manufacturers and importers should therefore establish a change matrix for each product: affected raw or packaging material, old and new limit or maximum level, supplier evidence, changeover date and permitted sell-through. Particularly for long shelf lives, the transitional period must be reconciled with production and warehouse stock.

Microbiome ingredient: EFSA publishes its opinion on Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106

On 28 July 2026, the European Food Safety Authority published its scientific opinion on the novel food application for Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106. [6] According to Caelus Pharmaceuticals B.V.’s application, this is a fermentation-produced, freeze-dried powder containing live cells. It is intended for adult food supplements at a maximum daily intake of 9 × 10⁹ AFU. These product and safety details come from the company’s application. [7]

The notable innovation is less the dosage form than the organism itself. CH106 represents a generation of microbiome bacteria assessed at strain level, whose development extends well beyond selecting conventional yoghurt or lactic acid cultures. For ingredient developers, this means strain-level identity, manufacturing process, genomic stability, antibiotic resistance, toxicology and reliable quantification of viable cells must be developed as an integrated dossier.

No market authorisation or claim clearance yet

The EFSA opinion is an important procedural step, but not yet an authorisation. Only a corresponding European Commission decision and inclusion in the Union list would permit marketing of the novel food under the conditions specified there. [8] Nor would this authorise health claims. Product positioning, designation and claims must therefore be planned separately from the novel food safety assessment.

Potential users should also resolve practical questions early: how stable are the live cells under oxygen and moisture exposure? What overage is needed through to the end of shelf life? Which analytical method will be accepted for release and stability testing? And can possible application-data protection periods be reconciled with the planned market entry?

Ingredion/Tate & Lyle: shareholders approve, but completion remains some way off

On 28 July, Tate & Lyle shareholders approved the recommended cash acquisition by Ingredion by a large majority. According to Tate & Lyle, 98.64 per cent of votes cast in the decisive vote supported the transaction. Completion remains subject, among other things, to competition conditions, court sanction of the scheme of arrangement and further formal steps. Tate & Lyle expects completion in the second half of 2027. [9]

The transaction therefore has shareholder support but has not been operationally completed. The combination would be significant for food ingredients: two international suppliers with overlapping and complementary capabilities in texturising, starch, sweetening and functional ingredients would come under common ownership.

What customers can usefully prepare now

Approval alone does not immediately change existing supply contracts or specifications. Manufacturers should nevertheless use the long lead time to identify dependencies: which formulations source key components from one or both companies? Where could alternative specifications or second suppliers be qualified? Which approvals would need reopening after subsequent plant, product-code or manufacturing changes? Purchasing, quality and development teams should work from the same supplier matrix.

What else has happened

• IMCD: The speciality chemicals and ingredients distributor reports operating EBITA of €285 million for the first half of 2026, four per cent above the prior-year period. Read more...
• What’s Cooking Group: Following the initial offer period, Malaga held 95.75 per cent including associated shares; the simplified squeeze-out and subsequent delisting envisaged in the prospectus are scheduled to run until 14 August. Read more...
• Nestlé: Nestlé and Platinum Equity plan a 50:50 joint venture, ‘Peranel’, for the water and premium beverages business; completion is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to approvals. Read more...
• Planethic: Planethic Group, formerly Veganz Group, has applied for restructuring under self-administration; according to the company, operations are to continue. Read more...

Wishing you every success, Andreas Gebhart

Sources

All sources last checked and accessed on 30 July 2026.

1. BLV: Anhangsrevisionen im Lebensmittelrecht – Sommer 2026.
2. Fedlex: VPRH, Zusatzstoffverordnung, Aromenverordnung und Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung.
3. EFSA: Safety of Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106, 28. Juli 2026.
4. Europäische Kommission: Novel-Food-Antrag 2021-0521; Rechtsgrundlagen: Verordnung (EU) 2015/2283und Unionsliste neuartiger Lebensmittel.
5. Tate & Lyle: Results of shareholder meetings, Unternehmensmitteilung vom 28. Juli 2026.
6. IMCD: First-half 2026 results, Unternehmensmitteilung vom 29. Juli 2026.
7. What’s Cooking Group/Malaga: Ergebnis der ersten Annahmephase und Zeitplan des Squeeze-out, Unternehmensunterlagen.
8. Nestlé: Joint Venture „Peranel“, Unternehmensmitteilung vom 23. Juli 2026.
9. Planethic: Restrukturierung in Eigenverwaltung, Unternehmensmitteilung vom 25. Juni 2026.

Note: This article provides professional information and does not constitute legal advice. The specific product, target market and legislation in force at the time of the decision are decisive. Image: AI-generated.