Ecklonia cava phlorotannins: 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 intended for the general population, excluding children under the age of 12 years: 163 mg/day for adolescents from 12 to 14 years of age 230 mg/day for adolescents above 14 years of age 263 mg/day for adults

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Ecklonia cava Phlorotannins’. Food supplements containing Ecklonia cava phlorotannins shall bear the following statement: (a) This food supplement should not be consumed by children/adolescents under the age of twelve/fourteen/eighteen(*) years. (b) This food supplement should not be consumed by persons with thyroid disease or by persons who are aware of or have been identified as being at risk of developing thyroid disease. (c) This food supplement should not be consumed if other food supplements containing iodine are also consumed. (*) Depending on the age group the food supplement is intended for.

Specification (Table 2)

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

Description/Definition

Ecklonia cava phlorotannins are obtained via alcohol extraction from the edible marine alga Ecklonia cava. The extract is a dark brown powder, rich in phlorotannins, polyphenolic compounds found as secondary metabolites in certain brown algae species.

Characteristics/Composition

Phlorotannin content: 90 ± 5 %

Antioxidant activity: > 85 %

Moisture: < 5 %

Ash: < 5 %

Microbiological criteria

Total viable cell count: < 3 000 CFU/g

Mould/yeast: < 300 CFU/g

Coliforms: Negative to test

Salmonella spp.: Negative to test

Staphylococcus aureus: Negative to test

Heavy metals and Halogens

Lead: < 3,0 mg/kg

Mercury: < 0,1 mg/kg

Cadmium: < 3,0 mg/kg

Arsenic: < 25,0 mg/kg

Inorganic Arsenic: < 0,5 mg/kg

Iodine: 150,0 - 650,0 mg/kg

CFU: Colony Forming Units

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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