Calanus finmarchicus oil: authorised novel food in the EU

Conditions of use and maximum levels

Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:

• Food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC, excluding food supplements for infants and young children: 0,9 g/day (≤ 2,25 mg astaxanthin per day) for the general population under 10 years of age, excluding infants and young children 2,2 g/day (≤ 5,5 mg astaxanthin per day) for the general population between 10 to 14 years of age 3,1 g/day (≤7,75 mg astaxanthin per day) for the general population older than 14 years of age

Additional specific labelling requirements

1. The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘oil from Calanus finmarchicus (crustacean)’. 2. The labelling of food supplements containing Calanus finmarchicus oil shall bear a statement that those food supplements should not be consumed: (a) if other food supplements containing astaxanthin esters are consumed on the same day; (b) by infants and children younger than 3 years / children under 10 years of age / children and adolescents under 14 years of age depending on the age groups the food supplement is intended for.

Specification (Table 2)

Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:

Description/Definition:

The novel food is ruby coloured, slightly viscous oil with a slight shellfish odour extracted from the crustacean (marine zooplankton) Calanus finmarchicus. The ingredient consists primarily of wax esters (> 85 %) with minor amounts of triglycerides and other neutral lipids.

Specifications:

Water: < 1,0 %

Wax esters: > 85 %

Total fatty acids: > 46 %

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): > 3,0 %

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): > 4,0 %

Total fatty alcohols: > 28 %

C20:1 n-9 fatty alcohol: > 9,0 %

C22:1 n-11 fatty alcohol: > 12 %

Trans fatty acids: < 1,0 %

Astaxanthin esters: ≤ 0,25 %

Peroxide value (PV): < 3,0 meq. O2/kg

Source and version

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods, Table 1. Consolidated text of 10 August 2026. The text above is copied from that document without change except that amendment markers are removed. It is not advice and it does not decide whether a particular product is covered.

• Consolidated text on EUR-Lex

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