The addition of the new species to the Novel Food Status Catalogue is a game-changer for the algae industry in Europe
More than 20 algae species have been added to the EU Novel Food Status Catalogue. Thanks to collaborative efforts of the European Commission and EU Member States’ competent authorities, they can now be sold on the market as food or food supplements.
It not only eliminates a bottleneck in the development of the sector but also saves the industry significant time and money. This should result in a shortened process for the marketing authorisation of algae products, leading to an estimated cost savings of at least €10 million for the algae industry in the EU.
The addition of the new species to the Novel Food Status Catalogue is a game-changer for the algae industry in Europe. Previously, only very few types of algae were considered non-novel foods or non-novel food supplements in the EU. The updated catalogue includes now more than 60 entries, covering several species of microalgae and seaweed-derived products (such as extracts, or oils).
Since these algae species have traditionally been used as food in any EU country, producers can now bring their products to market without having to obtain a pre-market authorisation.
All the EU food and safety regulations – such as the General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) –apply to these products.
Overall, the expanded list of recognised algae species is a win-win for producers and consumers. It promotes innovation and diversity in the food and supplement market while ensuring that consumers have access to safe products.
