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:
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.
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 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