StartLife Hosts Workshop to Help Food Innovators Navigate EU Regulatory Requirements

WAGENINGEN, Netherlands — February 18, 2026 — StartLife is hosting an informative hybrid workshop titled “Navigating EU Regulatory Requirements for Innovative Food Products” aimed at helping startups and food innovators better understand the complex regulatory landscape in the European Union.

The workshop will take place on 18 February 2026, from 15:30 to 17:00 CET at Wageningen Campus, Bronland 10-D, Netherlands, and will also be accessible online. Participation is free of charge.

Addressing Key Regulatory Challenges for Food Innovators

The interactive session is designed to support entrepreneurs and researchers working on cutting-edge food products by clarifying how EU regulatory rules apply across different stages of product development and market readiness.

Topics on the agenda include:

• Product qualification — how to assess whether a new food product falls under the scope of prior market authorization requirements.

• Regulatory requirements — what manufacturers must consider when their product is subject to EU rules and what compliance steps are needed.

• Member State case studies — real-world examples and insights from consultations across EU countries.

• Mandatory vs. voluntary food information — implications for product naming and claims such as “high in protein” or “made in Europe.”

Participants will walk away with a clearer understanding of when regulatory questions should be integrated into the R&D process and how to approach naming and labeling for innovative products.

Expert Speaker and Q&A

The workshop features Karin Verzijden, a Life Sciences lawyer from Axon Lawyers, who brings extensive experience in guiding companies through EU food law, including issues around Novel Foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Verzijden will also host a live Q&A session for attendees.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is ideal for food tech startups, product developers, R&D teams, and entrepreneurs who are preparing to bring innovative food products to the European market and need to understand the regulatory framework that governs food safety, labeling, and market authorization.

Date and Registration

📍 18 February 2026🕒 15:30 – 17:00 (CET)

📌 Wageningen Campus, Bronland 10-D, The Netherlands

💻 Hybrid format (on-site and online)

💶 Free of charge

Registration is open now — interested participants can sign up through the event page on StartLife’s website: https://my.startlife.nl/event/2026-02-18-community-workshop-navigating-eu-regulatory-requirements-for-innovative-food-products

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