Question 8487 — aquaculture and professional fishing

Summary

Aware of the economic potential, the food challenges, the sources of diversification for professionals, the benefits for the territories, but also the road that remains to be covered, the Government published an ambitious roadmap a year ago for the development of the algal sector in France. The Government is attentive to the difficulties encountered by the French organic spirulina industry, resulting from the application of the European regulatory framework for organic production to microalgae cultures. Aquaculture and algae were integrated into the European framework for organic production from 2009, with reference to land-based agricultural production which had previously been defined, with adaptation to the constraints of the aquatic environment but without a specific framework being developed by type of aquaculture. In particular, the different types of production systems have not been detailed for the sake of simplicity and harmonization of practices. Thus, the production of spirulina is considered, at the European level, as an aquaculture production and there is no distinction with regard to the degree of openness or interaction with the natural environments of the production. Under this classification, the production of organic spirulina falls under the specifications for organic aquaculture, defined by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. However, it is provided in point 2.3.2, Annex II, Part III that only inputs of plant origin are authorized for the production of algae. This limitation is part of the general principles of organic production which in principle prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers and favor substances of natural origin, poorly soluble and compatible with the ecological functioning of production systems. It also aims to strictly regulate external contributions in order to maintain a clear differentiation between organic production and conventional production. Given the issues raised by this provision and in order to support the development of organic spirulina production, France sent, in October 2025, a note from the French authorities (NAF) to the European Commission, as part of the preparatory phase for the targeted revision of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 initiated at the initiative of the European Commission. This contribution highlighted the need to expand, for the production of organic algae, the possibility of using nitrogen inputs of animal origin already authorized in organic farming and listed in Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1169. This However, the proposal was not supported by other Member States and the European Commission, in accordance with the method it announced, based on the identification of targeted simplification measures likely to achieve broad agreement, did not take this development into account in the adjustments envisaged at this stage of the work. A position going beyond the support of a single Member State constitutes a necessary prerequisite for any re-registration of the subject in the discussions. A possible collective expression by several Member States could, if necessary, make it possible to reopen the examination of this proposal in the work of the European Commission. At this stage, however, such a prospect remains uncertain. In this context, the Government is continuing its discussions with the European Commission and the Member States, so that the specificities of the sector spirulina can be fully taken into consideration within the framework of the work and reflections in progress as well as in compliance with the principles and objectives of organic agriculture.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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