The company's Australasia division has applied to the region's food regulatory body for novel foods approval of its docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich oil derived from the marine microalgae Ulkeniasp.
Nutrinova already has approvals from the US and Europe, which it entered last year thanks to prior approval for a similar product made by US rival Martek. It is also allowed to sell the oil in Japan, where it is considered a food and does not need pre-market regulatory permission.
Future markets could include Brazil and Canada, where Nutrinova is aiming to lodge applications for approval in the near future. The company's plans do not seem to have been held back by court proceedings in Europe, recently launched by Martek over patent rights.
Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA which is derived from alpha-linolenic acid, have been associated with numerous health benefits, most notably for the cardiovascular system.
Omega-3 fortified foods currently represent a €38 million opportunity for food manufacturers, according to recent data from Frost & Sullivan, and this is expected to grow by 10 per cent per year for the next three years before reaching a plateau. The market has also been helped by strong nutrition messages from the National Heart Foundation, which advises at least two fish meals a week.
The usual source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish but vegetarian sources have some advantages over fish-derived products.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) will examine the safety, estimated dietary intake, nutritional implications, food technology and the costs and benefits to various affected parties of Nutrinova's product before allowing its sale on the market. It is also likely to look at data on a different DHA-rich microalgae (Schizochytrium sp.) and DHA-rich oil from this source, previously assessed by the then Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) and approved in Australia and New Zealand.