The general body of EU regulation ensures food safety and consumer protection.
This relatively complex regulation also applies to algae-based products. We are summarising the legislation from more specific topics to some more general topics that we feel are particularly relevant for algae-based food products.
The EU legislation related to algae used as food has evolved to accommodate the growing market and interest in algae-based products. Here are some key points summarising the current legislative framework:

[[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/2283/oj/eng|Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283]]:

Algae species that were not traditionally used as food in the EU before May 15, 1997,
are considered //novel foods// and require pre-market authorisation under this regulation
before they can be marketed in the EU.
The regulation ensures that novel foods are safe for consumers and properly labelled.


[[https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/novel-food/novel-food-status-catalogue_en|Expanded Catalogue of Algae Species]]:

The catalogue of Novel food status per species is maintained by EU. 
The EU has updated the Catalogue in 2024 to include more than 60 entries covering various species of microalgae and seaweed-derived products, such as extracts and oils.

This expansion allows producers to market their algae products without needing pre-market authorisation, provided there is evidence of traditional use in any EU country before the specified date31.

Although EU authorities claim the Catalogue is expected to result in significant
cost savings for the algae industry, the cost of introducing a novel food into
the Catalogue is still enormous, it may reach several million €, the process
conducted by EFSA is long and tedious.

Any list of species relying on species taxonomy is bound to be obsolete quite soon. Taxonomy, particularly of the microorganisms, is an evolving discipline. Species determination is in transition from morphological observation
to the use of novel molecular methods, and this frequently brings (more or less) surprising results. We described a few
examples of nomenclature problems [[novel fo


Harmonisation and Safety:

There is an ongoing effort to harmonise the regulatory framework for algae across EU Member States to facilitate intra-EU trade and ensure consistent safety standards4.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) plays a crucial role in assessing the safety of algae products and providing scientific opinions that inform EU policies and legislation.


Initiatives and Future Directions:

The European Commission has adopted initiatives like "Towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector" to unlock the potential of algae in various industries, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and energy production36.
The EU aims to promote innovation and diversity in the food and supplement market while ensuring consumer access to safe and sustainable products.

Challenges and Considerations:


Despite progress, there remains a lack of harmonized algae-related legislative frameworks between Member States, which can pose challenges for producers and marketers of algae products.

The EU continues to explore opportunities to integrate algae-related actions into funding calls and other initiatives to support the growth of the algae sector.

Overall, the EU's legislative framework for algae used as food is designed to ensure safety, promote innovation, and facilitate market access while addressing the unique challenges associated with this emerging sector.




[[Food quality and safety|]]

[[Novel food]]

[[Food additives]]

[[Food labeling]]



[[Food suplements]]

[[Health and Nutrition Claims]]

[[Use of extraction solvents]]

[[Food packaging]]

[[Traceability of pre-packed food]]



[[Internal notes - Food]]