The European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has opened debate on whether concentrated yerba mate extracts should be classified as "novel foods" under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — a designation that would require manufacturers to undergo a lengthy and expensive pre-market safety authorization process before selling their products in the European Union.
The debate was triggered by a referral from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which in January 2026 published an opinion questioning whether highly concentrated mate extracts — those containing caffeine levels significantly above what is found in traditionally prepared mate — have a sufficient history of consumption in Europe to qualify for the existing exemption afforded to traditional foods from third countries.
What's at Stake
The distinction is commercially critical. Traditional yerba mate sold as loose leaf for infusion is not affected — it has been consumed in Europe for decades and clearly qualifies as a traditional food. What's under scrutiny are the concentrated liquid and powdered extracts used in energy drinks, dietary supplements, and functional food products. These extracts, which can contain caffeine concentrations of 5 to 15 percent by weight compared to roughly 1.5 percent in dried mate leaf, represent the fastest-growing segment of the European mate market.
Industry estimates suggest that a novel food classification could affect up to 45 products currently sold in the EU from over two dozen brands. The authorization process typically takes 18 to 24 months and costs between €300,000 and €500,000 per application — prohibitive for the small and medium-sized enterprises that dominate the sector.
This regulation risks killing an emerging industry before it reaches maturity. The novel food framework was designed for genuinely new substances — lab-grown proteins, novel algae — not for a plant that indigenous peoples have consumed for a thousand years.
Diplomatic Dimensions
The debate has acquired diplomatic overtones. Argentina's ambassador to the EU, Martín Balza, wrote to the ENVI committee chair warning that a restrictive interpretation would undermine the trade facilitation objectives of the EU-Mercosur agreement, which includes provisions for mutual recognition of traditional food products. Paraguay and Brazil have issued similar supporting statements through their diplomatic channels.
The committee is expected to issue its recommendation by September 2026. Industry observers say the most likely outcome is a compromise: a transition period during which existing products can remain on the market while EFSA conducts a comprehensive safety review of concentrated mate extracts as a class, rather than requiring individual product-by-product authorization. For an industry in the midst of a European growth spurt, the regulatory uncertainty has introduced an unwelcome element of risk.