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| algae:food:novel_food [2026-06-20 01:13] – created robert | algae:food:novel_food [2026-06-20 08:33] (current) – [The Novel Food Catalogue] robert |
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| ==== The Novel Food Concept ==== | ==== The Novel Food Concept ==== |
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| Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001, OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02015R2283-20220715|EUR-Lex]] | Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001, OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02015R2283-20210327|EUR-Lex]] |
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| Under Article 3(2)(a), __"novel food"__ means any food that was not used for human consumption to a significant degree within the EU before __15 May 1997__, irrespective of the date of accession of individual member states, and that falls under at least one of several categories. Of these, the category with by far the greatest relevance to algae is: | Under Article 3(2)(a), __"novel food"__ means any food that was not used for human consumption to a significant degree within the EU before __15 May 1997__, irrespective of the date of accession of individual member states, and that falls under at least one of several categories. Of these, the category with by far the greatest relevance to algae is: |
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| The [[https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/novel-food/novel-food-status-catalogue_en|Novel Food Catalogue]], maintained by the Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), is a non-exhaustive, informational database listing foods and ingredients together with an indication of their likely novel food status, based on information submitted by member states. As of recent updates the catalogue includes more than 60 entries covering various microalgae and seaweed species, extracts and oils. | The [[https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/novel-food/novel-food-status-catalogue_en|Novel Food Catalogue]], maintained by the Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), is a non-exhaustive, informational database listing foods and ingredients together with an indication of their likely novel food status, based on information submitted by member states. As of recent updates the catalogue includes more than 60 entries covering various microalgae and seaweed species, extracts and oils. |
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| | We have to distinguish between the __Novel Food Catalogue__ and __Union List of Novel Food__, described in the Authorisation Pathway section. The first is an informative, searchable resource, while the second one is a formal regulation. |
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| __Important limitations of the catalogue:__ | __Important limitations of the catalogue:__ |
| * __EFSA risk assessment__: the Commission requests EFSA to carry out a safety assessment. EFSA's NDA Panel (Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens) is responsible for this evaluation. EFSA publishes administrative and scientific guidance for applicants, including a Scientific Guidance on the preparation of novel food applications and specific guidance addressing the data requirements for foods consisting of, isolated from or produced from micro-organisms, fungi or algae. | * __EFSA risk assessment__: the Commission requests EFSA to carry out a safety assessment. EFSA's NDA Panel (Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens) is responsible for this evaluation. EFSA publishes administrative and scientific guidance for applicants, including a Scientific Guidance on the preparation of novel food applications and specific guidance addressing the data requirements for foods consisting of, isolated from or produced from micro-organisms, fungi or algae. |
| * __Authorisation__: if EFSA's opinion is favourable, the Commission adopts an Implementing Regulation authorising the novel food and adding it to the __Union list of novel foods__, specifying conditions of use, labelling requirements and, where relevant, post-market monitoring requirements. | * __Authorisation__: if EFSA's opinion is favourable, the Commission adopts an Implementing Regulation authorising the novel food and adding it to the __Union list of novel foods__, specifying conditions of use, labelling requirements and, where relevant, post-market monitoring requirements. |
| * __Union list__: maintained via Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 of 20 December 2017 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, OJ L 351, 30.12.2017, p. 72. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02017R2470-20250101|EUR-Lex]] This list is amended frequently to add newly authorised novel foods, including several algae-derived ingredients (for example, oil rich in DHA and EPA from //Schizochytrium// sp., which has been the subject of several amending Implementing Regulations updating permitted conditions of use). | * __Union list__: maintained via Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 of 20 December 2017 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, OJ L 351, 30.12.2017, p. 72. [[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02017R2470-20260316|EUR-Lex]] This list is amended frequently to add newly authorised novel foods, including several algae-derived ingredients (for example, oil rich in DHA and EPA from //Schizochytrium// sp., which has been the subject of several amending Implementing Regulations updating permitted conditions of use). |
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| === Authorisation versus notification: two distinct routes === | === Authorisation versus notification: two distinct routes === |
