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, Vázquez Calderón F, Sánchez López J, Azevedo IC, Bruhn A, Fluch S, Garcia Tasende M, Ghaderiardakani F, Ilmjärv T, Laurans M, Mac Monagail M, Mangini S, Peteiro C, Rebours C, Stefansson T and Ullmann J (2021) Current Status of the Algae Production Industry in Europe: An Emerging Sector of the Blue Bioeconomy. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:626389. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.626389, JRC Technical Report EUR 30683 EN. Frontiers [[media:EU4algae:JRC_Araujo-etal_2021_Current Status of the Algae Production Industry in Europe.pdf|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.