Purpose: Establish a common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products within the EU, aiming to ensure market stability, transparency, and sustainability. Main Objectives:

Support sustainable development of the fishery and aquaculture sectors. Improve market transparency and competitiveness. Enhance consumer information through clear labelling and marketing standards.

Notable Clauses:

Mandatory origin labelling for all aquaculture products (Article 35), including algae-based products sold as food. Support for producer organisations to manage supply and stabilise markets. Promotion of sustainable practices and environmental standards throughout the value chain.

Legal Status: EU regulation—directly applicable and compulsory in all member states (no national transposition required). Previous Regulation: Replaced Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000. Delegated Acts / Subregulation:

Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013: Defines accepted feed materials, including algae meals and oils. Directive 2002/32/EC: Sets maximum levels of toxic contaminants in animal feed, relevant for algae used in feed. Member states may issue national guidelines for implementation but cannot override EU rules.

Inclusion in Scope: Algae-based products for food/feed are explicitly included in the scope of EU 1379/2013, particularly for labelling and marketing requirements. Specific Mention: Algae are referenced as part of aquaculture products, with special requirements for labelling and marketing when sold as food. Why It Matters: The regulation ensures consumer trust and market stability for algae products, aligning with broader EU goals such as the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy. It supports the use of algae as a sustainable, low-carbon protein source and bio-based material. Special Clauses: The mandatory origin labelling (Article 35) applies to all aquaculture products, including algae, ensuring transparency for consumers.

Purpose: Establishes the common organization of markets for fishery and aquaculture products in the EU.

Main Objectives:

1. Sustainable development of fishery and aquaculture sectors.
2. Market transparency and competitiveness.
3. Consumer protection through clear labeling and information.

1. Mandatory origin labeling for all aquaculture products, including algae-based products sold as food (EU 1379/2013).
2. Support for producer organizations to manage supply and stabilize markets.
3. Promotion of sustainable practices and environmental standards.

Legal Status: EU regulation—directly applicable and compulsory in all member states (no need for national transposition).

Previous Regulation: Replaced Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.

Delegated Acts/Subregulations:

Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013: Defines accepted feed materials, including algae meals and oils.

Directive 2002/32/EC: Sets maximum levels of toxic contaminants in animal feed, relevant for algae used in feed.

Member states may issue national guidelines for implementation, but cannot override EU rules.

Inclusion in Scope: Algae-based products for food/feed are subject to EU 1379/2013, especially for labeling and marketing.

Alignment with EU Goals: Supports the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy by promoting algae as a sustainable, low-carbon protein source and bio-based material.

Standardization: Ensures consumer trust and market stability for algae products.

Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 on the Common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products establishes the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products within the EU. Its main objectives are to ensure the sustainable development of these sectors, improve market transparency, and enhance the competitiveness of EU producers. The regulation sets out rules for producer organisations, marketing standards, consumer information, and market intelligence. It also introduces mandatory labelling requirements for fishery and aquaculture products, aiming to provide consumers with clear, accurate information on the origin, production methods, and environmental impacts of these products. Additionally, the regulation supports the creation of producer organisations to help manage supply and stabilise markets, and it promotes the use of sustainable practices throughout the value chain (chaineur-lex.europa.eu+2).

EU 1379/2013 is relevant to both macro and microalgae culturing because it includes algae-based products within its scope, particularly when these products are intended for food, feed, or other commercial uses. The regulation sets specific requirements for the labelling and marketing of macroalgae and microalgae products sold as food, ensuring that consumers receive transparent information about their origin and quality. This inclusion helps standardise the algae market, supports the development of a sustainable algae sector, and aligns with broader EU goals such as the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, which emphasise the role of algae in providing alternative, low-carbon protein sources and contributing to a circular economy

It is an old question: is algal cultivation an agricultural activity or an aquacultural activity. The answer to this question is important for several reasons:

1. spatial planning and permits: agriculture is frequently simpler, rules are simplified to reflect with the existing habits,
2. water permits: use of water for agriculture is governed by different rule than water use for aquaculture,
3. taxation: there are frequently simpler rules for farmers,
4. subsidies: there is an elaborate system of subsidies, mostly under EU jurisdiction with local implementation rules,
5. labelling: there are rules of origin and labelling requirements specific for each kind of activity,
6. jurisdiction: both at EU level and frequently at local levels the bodies responsible for each activity are different,
7. policy: algae and seaweeds are included in Annex 1 of

There are arguments to including algal cultivation under both umbrellas:

Regulation governing the aquaculture is //eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/