Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN) on a request for initial assessment for marketing of the dried marine microalgae Tetraselmis chuii in food supplements under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients

The company Fitoplancton Marino S.L. requested authorization to market dried microalgae Tetraselmis chuii in food supplements in the European Union. This would be an extension of use of the novel food authorized in March 2014 by a letter from the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN) within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 258/1997 on novel foods and novel food ingredients. The AECOSAN Scientific Committee takes the view that, according to the information provided, there is no indication that consumption of dried microalgae Tetraselmis chuii as a food supplement under the conditions proposed by the applicant, can produce adverse effects on health. The Committee concludes that the novel food presented for assessment meets the criteria for acceptance laid down by Regulation (EC) No 258/1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.