On 3 August 2026, the European Commission published a corrigendum (C(2026) 5715) to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1581, which had amended the conditions of use for the novel food 'astaxanthin-rich tincture from Haematococcus pluvialis algae'. The corrigendum replaces the term 'tincture' with 'oleoresin' throughout the text, affecting the title, recitals 3 to 9, and the Annex (Table 1 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470), including the food name and labelling requirements. The correction applies to the English, French, and German language versions, among others, and does not alter the approved use levels or conditions.
The original regulation, adopted on 1 August 2023, had authorised the novel food following an application submitted on 15 December 2022 under Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 by the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association. The approved uses remain unchanged: food supplements for children aged 3 to under 10 years at 23 mg oleoresin per day (up to 2.3 mg astaxanthin per day) and for adolescents aged 10 to under 14 years at 57 mg oleoresin per day (up to 5.6 mg astaxanthin per day). Labelling must now state the novel food name as 'oleoresin from Haematococcus pluvialis algae, rich in astaxanthin'.
The corrigendum is a technical correction with no impact on the safety assessment or the authorised conditions of use. It clarifies the terminology for food business operators who market the ingredient, ensuring that the product name on labels matches the authorised specification. The change from 'tincture' to 'oleoresin' reflects the actual physical form of the ingredient, which is an oily resin extract rather than an alcoholic tincture. This distinction is relevant for manufacturers and importers who must comply with the labelling requirements, as well as for enforcement authorities in EU member states who verify compliance with the novel food regulation.
For consumers, the correction has no direct impact on the safety or efficacy of the product, but it ensures that the ingredient is accurately described on labels, which may help avoid confusion. The applicant, Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association, benefits from a clearer regulatory text that aligns with the technical nature of the product. The corrigendum does not introduce any new requirements or change the approval status, and no further action is required from food business operators other than updating labels to reflect the corrected name if they have not already done so.