The first edition of the ‘List of Substances, category Plants and parts of plants’ was published in 2014. After the publication of the second edition of the ‘Preface to the Lists of Substances’, the revised ‘List of Plants’ and the first edition of the ‘List of Mushrooms (fungi)’ in 2020 the publication of the first edition of the ‘List of Algae’ and the third edition of the preface followed in 2024.

In order to provide manufacturers, distributors, authorities and consumers outside German-speaking countries with the recommendations for the classification of algae and algae products, the WG Stoffliste has translated the ‘List of Algae’ and the third edition of the ‘Preface to the Lists of Substances’ into English language. If there are any differences or discrepancies in the English versions, the German versions of the documents are binding.

The following documents are available as downloads on the BVL website:

• The English version of the 'List of Algae' and
• the English version of the 3rd edition of the ‘Preface to the Lists of Substances’.

All other published documents and further information on the WG Stoffliste can also be found there – currently in German, only.

https://www.bvl.bund.de/stofflisten

Translations of the ‘List of Plants’ and the ‘List of Mushrooms (fungi)’ will follow successively. Also, updates will be provided regularly.

ⁱBackground information

The Working Group ‘List of Substances’ consists of representatives of the competent federal authorities (BVL, BfR, BfArM) and representatives of the federal states' inspection bodies. Other members of the working group include representatives from Switzerland and Austria, as well as external experts from the respective fields.

The Working Group ‘List of Substances’ is dedicated to the classification of substances and thus makes an active contribution to consumer health protection. As a committee with recognised expertise, the working group develops several lists of substances, taking into account scientific findings and legal requirements. The focus is on the classification of substances with regard to their use as medicinal products or foodstuffs, as well as their safety and status as novel foods. The ‘Lists of Substances’ are intended to help authorities and food business operators classify fungi, algae and plant-based substances with regard to their use as food or food ingredients, and thus constitute a recommendation regarding the marketability of substances as food.

The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) is an independent federal authority within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In the area of food and feed safety, the BVL performs a wide range of management tasks and coordinates cooperation at various levels between the federal government, the federal states and the European Union. It is also responsible for the authorisation of plant protection products, veterinary medicinal products and genetically modified organisms in Germany.

Ausgabejahr 2025
Datum 13.02.2025

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