Table 6.

Key EU regulations concerning microalgae for use as foods/food ingredients.

Article	Date of Issue	Content	Aim	Critical Issues
Novel foods and novel food ingredients
EC 258/97	15 May 1997	Set out the legal framework for the marketing of “Novel Foods” and provide a system of authorization for the novel food marketing	To grant a high level of consumer protection and the functioning of the internal market.	Takes 3 years, high costs for novel food status (>€200,000).
EU 2015/2283	25 November 2015	Algae/extract considered to be novel food if it has not been consumed to a significant degree within the Union before May 15, 1997	To protect consumers.	Complex frameworks of policies to progress the microalgae food industry are challenging and time-consuming.
EU 2017/2407	20 December 2017	Maintained an online list called the novel food catalogue that contains the unions list of all authorized novel foods. The novel food catalogue contains both European and imported algae.	To summarize the novel food catalogue up to date (https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/novel-food/novel-food-catalogue_en (accessed on 11 January 2022)).
Food safety
EC 2002/178	28 January 2002	Provided EC (2002/178) provided a framework for a coherent approach in the development of any food legislation.	To ensure food safety during food production and distribution.	Relates to commonly consumed foods, not “new” foods.
Nutrition and health
EC 1924/2006	20 December 2006	Health claims should be supported with science and substantiated.	Scientific substantiation applied when making the claims.