{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-778/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-778/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2009/778",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Decision of 22 October 2009 concerning the extension of uses of algal oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2009) 7933) (Only the English text is authentic) (2009/778/EC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-778",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Decision\nof 22 October 2009\nconcerning the extension of uses of algal oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document C(2009) 7933)\n(Only the English text is authentic)\n(2009/778/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 14 January 2008 the company Martek Biosciences Corporation made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom for an extension of the uses as novel food ingredient of the oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp.\n(2)\nOn 4 September 2008 the competent food assessment body of the United Kingdom issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that the extension of uses of the oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. as a food ingredient was acceptable.\n(3)\nThe Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 25 September 2008.\n(4)\nWithin the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.\n(5)\nIn their objections Member States raised concerns about elevated intake levels of omega-3 fatty acids and in particular DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).\n(6)\nHowever, the main source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish-oil. In the foods of the categories for which the addition oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. was requested omega-3 fatty acids can be provided either from fish oil or alternatively from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp.\n(7)\nTherefore it is not expected that the use of oil from micro-algae in the food groups mentioned in the Annex will lead to an unacceptable increase of the overall intake of omega-3 fatty acids.\n(8)\nThe oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.\n(9)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2009/778/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:16:21.700426+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}