Moringa oleifera as a novel food

• FSANZ rejected an application to permit Moringa oleifera as a novel food in November 2025.
• This decision means Moringa oleifera is not permitted as a food or food ingredient for retail sale.

Key points

• FSANZ assessed the safety of Moringa oleifera leaves (fresh and dried), immature (green) seed pods and seed oil as a novel food through Application A1294 – Moringa oleifera as a novel food.
• A novel food must be assessed and approved by FSANZ before it is permitted to be sold as a food or a food ingredient in Australia and New Zealand.
• Our assessment considered all available data provided in the application and relevant peer reviewed literature. 
• The available information was not sufficient to establish the safety of Moringa oleifera (leaves, immature seed pods and oil) for human consumption.
• The decision reinforces that robust, high-quality scientific evidence is required when seeking approval for novel foods.

Enforcement considerations

• FSANZ develops food standards but does not enforce them.
• The decision on Application A1294 may change the way Moringa oleifera is regulated by food enforcement agencies and under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
• Food businesses can contact DAFF or their local enforcement agency for more information and guidance. 
• Therapeutic products containing Moringa oleifera are regulated separately by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Background

• Novel foods are non-traditional foods that require assessment by FSANZ to establish their safety before being permitted for sale as a food or as an ingredient in a food.
• In Australia and New Zealand, novel food and novel food ingredients are regulated under Standards 1.1.1 and 1.5.1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).
• To be approved, novel foods require an application to FSANZ. Current/Already approved novel foods are listed in Schedule 25 – section 2 of the Code.