Algae related regulation & legislation

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algae:food:labelling [2026-06-20 15:06] – created robertalgae:food:labelling [2026-06-20 15:30] (current) – [Practical Implications for Producers] robert
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 ==== The General Food Information Framework ==== ==== The General Food Information Framework ====
  
-Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011R1169-20180101|EUR-Lex]]+Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011R1169-20250401|EUR-Lex]]
  
 __Relevance to algae:__ This is the central EU regulation governing the information that must appear on any pre-packed food, and it applies in full to algae and algae-based food products in the same way as to any other food. Key mandatory particulars relevant to algae products include: __Relevance to algae:__ This is the central EU regulation governing the information that must appear on any pre-packed food, and it applies in full to algae and algae-based food products in the same way as to any other food. Key mandatory particulars relevant to algae products include:
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 ==== Origin and Production Method Labelling for Aquaculture Products ==== ==== Origin and Production Method Labelling for Aquaculture Products ====
  
-Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 1. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02013R1379-20220101|EUR-Lex]]+Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 1. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02013R1379-20241127|EUR-Lex]]
  
 __Relevance to algae:__ As discussed in [[algae:aquaculture_wild_harvesting|Aquaculture and Wild Harvesting]], seaweed and other algae are explicitly included within the scope of this regulation as aquaculture/fishery products. Articles 35–39 impose specific consumer information requirements __in addition to__ those under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, applicable when algae are sold to the final consumer or to mass caterers: __Relevance to algae:__ As discussed in [[algae:aquaculture_wild_harvesting|Aquaculture and Wild Harvesting]], seaweed and other algae are explicitly included within the scope of this regulation as aquaculture/fishery products. Articles 35–39 impose specific consumer information requirements __in addition to__ those under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, applicable when algae are sold to the final consumer or to mass caterers:
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 These requirements apply specifically to algae sold __as food, in essentially unprocessed or minimally processed form__ (the categories of products covered by Annex I to the CMO Regulation). Once algae are used as an ingredient within a more substantially processed composite food, the general Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 framework applies instead, without the CMO-specific aquaculture labelling layer. These requirements apply specifically to algae sold __as food, in essentially unprocessed or minimally processed form__ (the categories of products covered by Annex I to the CMO Regulation). Once algae are used as an ingredient within a more substantially processed composite food, the general Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 framework applies instead, without the CMO-specific aquaculture labelling layer.
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 +We cannot help but note that this labelling requirement (country of cultivation) is frequently overlooked or ignored. There are many prepackaged algal products on the EU market of non-EU origin that simply state "packaged in EU" or something similar. This may be sufficient according to the value (more than 50% of the value is in packaging), but it is illegal for an aquaculture product.
  
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   * __Determine whether the CMO aquaculture labelling layer applies__ — this depends on the degree of processing and the channel of sale (consumer vs. further processing) — in addition to the general food information requirements.   * __Determine whether the CMO aquaculture labelling layer applies__ — this depends on the degree of processing and the channel of sale (consumer vs. further processing) — in addition to the general food information requirements.
   * __Check the specific novel food authorisation entry__ for any mandatory labelling conditions attached to the product's Union list entry, which are additional to and can be more demanding than the general rules.   * __Check the specific novel food authorisation entry__ for any mandatory labelling conditions attached to the product's Union list entry, which are additional to and can be more demanding than the general rules.
-  * __Account for batch-to-batch compositional variability__ when declaring nutrition information, particularly for nutrients known to vary significantly with growing conditions (iodine, protein content).+  * __Account for batch-to-batch compositional variability__ when declaring nutrition information, particularly for nutrients known to vary significantly with growing conditions or season (iodine, protein content).
   * __Coordinate labelling content with the quality and safety chapter__ — see [[algae:food:quality_safety|Food Quality and Safety]] — since some voluntary or precautionary statements (e.g. about iodine content) may be commercially or ethically advisable even where not strictly mandatory.   * __Coordinate labelling content with the quality and safety chapter__ — see [[algae:food:quality_safety|Food Quality and Safety]] — since some voluntary or precautionary statements (e.g. about iodine content) may be commercially or ethically advisable even where not strictly mandatory.
  
algae/food/labelling.1781967966.txt.gz · Last modified: by robert