Legislation and Biosecurity

As potential sources of biologically active compounds, the diversity and variability of the biochemical composition of the algal biomass make them a target of interest for a wide range of industrial applications, including agriculture and food industry. As discussed in the previous chapters, algae are known for their antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, besides being considered abundant in vitamins and minerals essential for human health with high protein content. Many foods obtained from algal biomass can provide therapeutic substances and compounds that are necessary for a nutrient-rich diet. With the growing demand for a healthy lifestyle, industries are seeking to innovate their products to meet human needs and interests, given the ease of producing these foods on a large-scale in a reduced physical and temporal space. However, in parallel, legislative bodies are increasingly concerned about the use of algal products in industry, as well as ensuring food safety during their marketing. This is due to the danger of contamination of algal species from growth to storage, and possible accumulation of heavy metals by many algal species due to their high absorption capacity. Thus, the overall objective of this chapter is to outline and summarise the legal issues related to the use of algae as well as food safety.