Algae related regulation & legislation

This page lists all external references cited across the algae wiki, excluding links to EUR-Lex (which are tracked in Referenced Legal Sources). Sources are grouped by topic. Files available locally in the wiki media library are noted with a local link. References cited in Regulatory Cases and Precedents appear in the relevant topic section.

Note on currency of local files: The bibliography folder may contain older versions of documents that have since been updated. Always verify the current version at the source before relying on a document for compliance purposes.

• European Commission, COM(2022) 592 final, Towards a Strong and Sustainable EU Algae Sector, 15 November 2022. EURlex | PDF direct
• European Commission, SWD(2022) 361 final, Staff Working Document accompanying COM(2022) 592, 15 November 2022. EURlex | PDF direct | local copy
• European Economic and Social Committee, Opinion EESC-2022-04884-00-00-AC-TRA, Towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector. EURlex
• EU4Algae project, Algae Farmers Toolkit. maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu
• EU4Algae project, Protocol to apply for a Novel Food Dossier (2025). data.europa.eu
• Araújo R. et al. (2021), Current Status of the Algae Production Industry in Europe: An Emerging Sector of the Blue Bioeconomy. JRC Technical Report EUR 30683 EN. Frontiers local copy
• EU4Algae, Chemical and Microbiological Contaminants in Algae for Food, workgroup report, 2024. PDF direct
• EU4Algae, Consumer Labels pocket guide — new fish and aquaculture labels. local copy

• European Commission, The Blue Guide on the implementation of EU product rules (2022 edition). CELEX 52022XC0629(04). Reference for CE marking, market surveillance, and product safety obligations.
• European Commission, Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2014) 66 — organic and non-organic algae status. Austrian Parliament archive
• Monard C. (2018), Analysis of the definition of algae in EU legislation, report for DG Energy, European Commission. local copy
• Overview of EC Food Legislation (2016). local copy

All EFSA publications are accessible via EFSA Journal and efsa.europa.eu.

• EFSA NDA Panel (2016), Guidance for the preparation of applications for authorisation of novel foods (updated periodically — consult latest version for dossier preparation). EFSA
• EFSA CONTAM Panel (2012), Scientific opinion on the risks for public health related to the presence of cyanotoxins in food. EFSA Journal 2012; 10(8):2819. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2815
• EFSA CONTAM Panel (2020), Opinion on the risks for animal and public health related to the presence of cyanotoxins in plant food supplements. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(2):5993. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5993
• EFSA NDA Panel (2009), Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to various foods/food constituents and antioxidant properties. EFSA Journal 2009; 7(9):1253. PDF
• EFSA NDA Panel (2011), Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to antioxidant vitamins. EFSA Journal 2011; 9(6):2206. PDF
• EFSA NDA Panel (2023), Safety of phycocyanin-rich extract from Galdieria sulphuraria as a novel food for use in food supplements. EFSA Journal 2023; 21(1):7798. EFSA Journal
• EFSA NDA Panel (2026), Safety evaluation of blue galdieria extract as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2026; 24(3):e9960. EFSA Journal
• EFSA CONTAM Panel (2005), Opinion on the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed. EFSA Journal 2005; 3(12):291. EFSA Journal
• EFSA CONTAM Panel (2014), Scientific opinion on risks for human health related to the presence of perchlorate in food. EFSA Journal 2014; 12(6):3725. EFSA Journal
• EFSA CONTAM Panel (2014), Scientific opinion on the risks to human and animal health related to the presence of indole-3-acetic acid and related compounds in food and feed. EFSA Journal 2014; 12(6):3724. EFSA Journal
• EFSA NDA Panel (2022), Safety of dried whole cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a novel food. EFSA Journal 2022; 20(2):e07161. PMC
• EFSA Scientific Committee (2023), Scientific report on emerging risks in food safety. EN-8233. PDF
• EFSA Scientific Committee (2024), Activities on emerging risks in 2023. EN-9198. PDF
• EFSA NDA Panel (2023), Re-evaluation of alginates. EFS2_8415 Rev 5. PDF
• EFSA (2024), Arsenic in food — plain language summary. EFSA
• Testai E. et al. (2016), Cyanobacterial toxins: bioaccumulation. ANSES report. PDF | see also Deep-Purple standardisation file
• Food Risk Assess Europe (2026), Algae risk assessment. PDF

• EU Novel Food Catalogue (DG SANTE): Novel Food Catalogue — searchable database for novel food status.
• Decisions terminating novel food procedure (DG SANTE): DG SANTE portal
• EABA (2023), Algae as Novel Food in Europe. EABA | local copy

• Dourado M.N., van den Berg H. and Gama J. (2016), “European Regulatory Framework on Novel Foods and Novel Food Additives”, in Functional Food and Human Health, ed. Ravishankar. local copy
• deBoer A. (2019), “Scientific assessments in European food law: Making it future-proof”, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 106, 87–95. ScienceDirect | local copy
• Lähteenmäki-Uutela A. et al. (2021), “Alternative proteins and EU food law”, Food Control 130. local copy
• Lauzeri A. et al. (2023), “Regulatory aspects of microalgae-derived food and feed products in the EU”, Journal of Food Science and Technology. SpringerLink
• BioSafe (2023), “Microalgae to market: Regulatory essentials for food innovators”. BioSafe blog
• Lewis M.A. (2022), NutraSteward: Fucoxanthin from Phaeodactylum tricornutum — Understanding Regulation for Nutraceuticals in EU and US. local copy
• “Seaweeds for food: from production to consumer”, Nordic publication (2026), Chapter 3: Food Safety. Norden Publications
• CEVA (2019), Edible algae — French and EU regulatory update. local copy
• WHO (2017), Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (4th edition with 1st addendum), cyanotoxin chapters. WHO
• Mangini A. (2022), EU4Algae Survey on algae regulation. local copy
• Crespo N. et al. (2022), “Regulatory landscape for microalgae-based products across market applications”, MultiStr3am-BBI project. local copy | summary copy

• Hieke S. and Grunert K.G. (2018), “Consumers and health claims”, Reference Module in Food Science (Elsevier). doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-100922-2.00002-4. local copy
• Lenssen J., Bast A. and de Boer A. (2020), “Should botanical health claims be substantiated with evidence on traditional use? Reviewing the stakeholders' arguments”. local copy
• Stachowiak-Szulc B. et al. (2021), “Antioxidant Claims on Food Products — EU Regulatory Status”, Molecules 26(9):2666. MDPI
• deBoer A. et al. (2014), “Scientific substantiation of health claims: Regulatory challenges for producers of botanical products”. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. ScienceDirect | see also deBoer 2019
• ASA/CAP UK (2023), “Food — Antioxidant claims”. ASA/CAP UK (UK guidance; relevant as comparative reference for understanding how antioxidant claims are being handled post-Brexit).
• EU Health Claims Register (DG SANTE): DG SANTE portal — authorised and refused claims database.
• Akumal Nutrition (2024), “Health claims for supplement labelling in the EU”. Akumal Nutrition blog (trade commentary, not legal advice).
• Nutraingredients (2016), “Why antioxidant claims have been killed off in the EU”. Nutraingredients

• Gallego R. et al. (2026), “GMO microalgae: regulatory and commercial landscape”. Reviews in Aquaculture. Wiley
• Spicer A. and Molnar A. (2018), “Gene editing of microalgae: scientific progress and regulatory challenges in Europe”. Biology 7(1):21. PMC
• Broll G. et al. (2019), “Detection methods for GMOs in food and feed”. Food Control 101:63–78. ScienceDirect
• CJEU (2023), Press Release on case C-688/21 (NGT ruling). CJEU
• European Parliament (2024), “Is the EU authorising new GMOs? Telling fact from fiction”. EP Topics
• Wesseler J. et al. (2022), “The EU New Genomics Techniques Regulation”. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. Wiley
• SCNAT Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences (2026), “New genomic techniques: European regulation”. SCNAT
• Mangini A. (2021), Algae regulatory deals and constraints — Polo Microalghe. local copy

• IUCN (2000), 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species. PDF
• EASIN (2024), Factsheet — Caulerpa taxifolia. EASIN
• JRC (2022), Marine Strategy Framework Directive — Descriptor 2, Non-Indigenous Species. JRC Repository
• ICES (2012), Alien Species Alert: Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame or Japanese Kelp). ICES Library
• Ireland (2024), Statutory Instrument 374/2024 — Invasive Alien Species Regulations. Irish Statute Book
• van der Loos L. et al. (2023), “Invasion history and genetic diversity of Sargassum muticum in Europe”. European Journal of Phycology. HAL Open Access
• Tsiamis K. et al. (2020), “The native-exotic species debate: Current concerns and future challenges for marine introduced species in Europe”. Aquatic Conservation. Wiley
• IUCN GISD (2024), Global Invasive Species Database — Caulerpa taxifolia. IUCN GISD
• Sfriso A. et al. (2012), “Spreading and autoecology of the invasive species Gracilaria vermiculophylla in the north-western Adriatic Sea”. ResearchGate
• Jensen T. et al. (2023), “Monitoring marine invasive algae in Danish coastal waters”, Diversity 15(4):434. DTU Repository
• Manolidi K. et al. (2018), “Neurotoxin BMAA and its isomeric amino acids in cyanobacteria and cyanobacteria-based food supplements”. ResearchGate
• Wang Y. et al. (2023), “Investigation on cyanobacterial production of the proposed neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)”. ResearchGate
• Bellver A. et al. (2025), “Invasive macroalgae in Mediterranean coastal habitats”. UPC. PDF

• EGTOP (2021), Final Report on Fertilisers IV and Plant Protection Products VI. ResearchGate | local copy
• EGTOP (2023), Final Report on Fertilisers VI and PPP VIII. EC download | see also EGTOP 2021 local copy
• EGTOP (2026), Reports and work programme. EC portal
• EGTOP (2023), Final Report on Aquaculture IV. local copy
• EGTOP (2023), Report on Criteria for Cleaning and Disinfection. local copy
• EGTOP (2021), Report on Factory Farming. EC download
• Organic farming legislative archive (European Parliament 2017): consolidated text. local copy

• European Commission (2023), Trade Secrets Litigation Trends Study. local copy
• Koniaris M., Anagnostopoulos I. and Vassiliou V. (2015), “Network analysis in the legal domain: A complex model for European Union legal sources”. local copy
• Koniaris M., Anagnostopoulos I. and Vassiliou V. (2017), “Evaluation of diversification techniques for legal information retrieval”. local copy

• European Commission (2024), Green Claims Directive legislative documents. Track via EURlex search
• Compare Ethics (2024), “An Essential Guide to the EU Green Claims Directive”. local copy
• Inside EU Life Sciences (2024), “EU Adopts New Rules on Greenwashing and Social Impact Claims”. local copy
• Various jurisdictions guide (2024), “How to make reliable sustainability claims in the US, UK, and Netherlands”. local copy
• H4P Project (2023), Policy brief on green claims. local copy
• Sagentia (2024), “Natural colours — food and beverage regulations”. Sagentia blog
• Givaudan/Everzure (2024), “Galdieria natural blue color regulatory pathway”. Food Ingredients First

• COSING — European Commission Cosmetics Ingredient Database: COSING portal | COSING entry for Galdieria: entry 98999
• ISO 22716:2007, Cosmetics — Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). ISO
• European Commission — Cosmetics legislation overview: Single Market Economy portal
• COSMOS-standard (for organic and natural cosmetics certification): COSMOS-standard AISBL
• NATRUE (for natural and organic cosmetics certification): NATRUE
• EU Ecolabel (for cosmetic products): EU Ecolabel
• Deep Purple project (2023), Standardisation of algae pigments for cosmetics. local copy

• Biogas3 project (2014), European legislative and financial framework for biogas from algae. local copy
• NNFCC (2019), Regulatory requirements for algal-derived animal feed. local copy

• EUR-Lex: eur-lex.europa.eu — authoritative source for all EU legal acts.
• EU Novel Food Catalogue (DG SANTE): DG SANTE
• EU Feed Materials Register: feedmaterialsregister.eu
• EU Feed Additives Register (DG SANTE): DG SANTE
• EU Health Claims Register (DG SANTE): DG SANTE
• RASFF — Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed: RASFF portal
• EFSA Open Scientific Data: open.efsa.europa.eu
• ECHA Substance Registry: echa.europa.eu
• AlgaeBase (taxonomic database): algaebase.org
• EASIN (European Alien Species Information Network): easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu
• EU Aquaculture Knowledge Base: aquaculture.ec.europa.eu

• France — LégiFrance (including list of authorised plants in food supplements, JORF): LégiFrance
• Ireland — Invasive Alien Species Regulations SI 374/2024: Irish Statute Book

• EABA — European Algae Biomass Association: eaba-association.org | eaba-association.eu
• EU4Algae platform (maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu): EU4Algae
• Locality Algae project: locality-algae.eu
• What are algae? (educational resource): what-are-algae.com
• H4P — Health4Protein project policy briefs: see local copy

The following files are stored in the wiki bibliography folder and may be relevant for background research:

• Sabana project — EU relevant legislation for nutrient recovery (confidential — check access rights before sharing)
• ALGAECAN D5.1 Market and Legislation Analysis
• ALGAECAN Final Report — legislative add-on
• Legislación — Productos Agronómicos (Spanish)
• SEC(2008) 2976 — EU food supplements market characteristics
• JRC 2008 — End-of-waste criteria (JRC Technical Report)
• Primeur 2022 — Spirulina national production data (French)
• EU Certification Marks Regulation
• EU cellar document — identify and label appropriately
• Slovenian national legislation (RS_* files) — water, environment, food safety regulations; in Slovenian, for member-state comparison.

See also: Referenced Legal Sources | Regulatory Cases and Precedents | General on EU Legislation | Initiatives and Strategic Documents

Last reviewed: September 2026.