CERES' Standard for Micro-Algae and Micro-Algae Products

Preliminary Note
This standard is the intellectual property of CERES GmbH, Germany. Any use of the standard needs the approval of CERES.

1.  Area of application
This standard covers the pond production of micro-algae as well as the processing of micro-algae.
It does not cover the wild collection of micro-algae grown in their natural environment (e.g. alkaline salt lakes). If there should be any interest for the certification of such production systems please contact CERES headquarters.

2.  Conversion period
In case of pond production no conversion period will be necessary if a new production cycle is started that complies to all requirements of this standard.

3.  Use of production substrates
GMOs are not allowed.

Only those substrates of agricultural origin are allowed that are listed according to EU Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91. These might be organic fertilizers or feed materials (from certified organic origin). However, the use of animal manure (including guano) is prohibited.

Only those substrates of non-agricultural origin are allowed that are listed according to EU Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91. These might be water and salt, mineral fertilizers, food additives, and processing aids; e.g. sodium carbonates like sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) and sodium bicarbonate (Na₂CO₃) are allowed for pH regulation.
However, the use of flavouring and enzymes is prohibited.

As source of light only natural sunlight might be used. In case of unfavourable site conditions the production ponds might be covered with glass or plastic film.
 
The quality of the used fresh water must meet the legal national drinking water requirements. If these requirements should be less strict than those of WHO, the latter one have to be applied.
If the used fresh water comes form public water supply a yearly quality analysis must be available.
In case of water that does not come from public but from private water supply, the use of the fresh water must not disturb the corresponding ecosystem (e.g. streams, lakes, or groundwater) negatively. This implies that in case of smaller streams e.g. appropriate minimum flow rates must be kept respectively that appropriate minimum groundwater tables must be kept during dry seasons.
In case the water comes from private water supply half-yearly quality analysis must be available.
In order to reduce the needed amount of fresh water appropriate recycling methods must be used.

In case of discharge of waste water to the public waste water system water quality must comply to the relevant local requirements.
In case of discharge of waste water directly into natural drainage systems (e.g. receiving stream, groundwater table (either by surface leaching/infiltration or by pressing/pumping into the ground)) the waste water must, as a minimum achieve the water body quality category "good" (= maximum 20 - 30 mg COD¹).
Salt content and pH of the waste water must meet those of the receiving water body. Especially salinization in arid area must be avoided.
In case a pH correction has to be carried out the this should preferably be done with carbon dioxide (CO₂); if this is not possible such acids may be used that are normally used for pH neutralisation (e.g. hydrochloric acid (HCl)).

Only physical processing methods are allowed (like filtering, mechanical and/or thermal drying, etc.).

Anti-foaming agents (here: vegetable oils) are only allowed if they are certified according to an organic standard.
As pressing aid only silicon dioxide (SiO₂) is allowed.

 

The operator must prove by corresponding test results that the final product meets the following criteria²:

Microbiological Features	Unit	Limit Value
Total microbial counts	CFU3/g	1.0 x 105
Moulds	CFU/g	1.0 x 104
Enterobacteriaceae	CFU/g	1.0 x 103
Coli form germs	CFU/g	1.0 x 102
E. Coli	CFU/g	negative
Staphylococcus aureus	CFU/g	<10
Salmonellae	CFU/g	negative
Chemical Features
Heavy metals4
Pb	mg/kg	1.2
Cd	mg/kg	0.3
Hg	mg/kg	0.2
As	mg/kg	0.7
Pesticide residues	mg/kg	Accord. to the European MRL for foodstuffs respectively the Euro- pean Pharmaceutical Book 2005 (Ph. Eur. 2005)
Microcycstin Toxins  (like Microcystin-LA, -LF, -LR, -LW, -RR, -YR, Anatoxin-A, Nodularin-R)	mg/kg	<1
Irradiation	n.n.	negative

 

  Footnotes:      

1. Chemical Oxygen Demand
2. The shown suvey originally comes from GBA (Gesellschaft fuer Bioanalytik Hamburg mbH, Bereich Lebensmittelanalytik) and has been adapted by CERES
3. Colony Forming Units
4. Values derive from provisionally tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) data for these substances of the WHO