# Laminar _Ulva_ Species: A Multi-Tool for Humankind?
## 3 _Ulva_ Cultivation Methods: Towards an Innovative Future?
### Cultivation Security and Safety Measures  
Macroalgae have a long history of usage in the creation of thickening and gelling agents used as additives in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical items; therefore, in the EU, every product that is sold must adhere to particular regulations. In the food sector, there are three areas that are linked to algae, from its production through direct to indirect consumption. Regarding their production, organic macroalgae create a specific regulatory category, and Regulations EC No. 710/2009 and EU No. 2018/848 established detailed rules on the biological production of macroalgae including harvesting from natural reserves (i.e., the collection does not substantially affect the strength of the natural ecosystem). For algae and extracts to be commercialized, three Novel Food Regulations must be followed: EC No. 258/97 (which establishes that species that have not been used as food to a significant degree in any of the EU member countries before 15 May 1997 need to undergo an authorization procedure); EC No. 2015/2283 (where an additional notification system is provided for species that have demonstrated a history of safe food use for at least 25 years in a country outside the EU), and EU No. 2017/2470 (or Catalog of Novel Foods, which contains a list of foods including European and imported seaweed intended for human consumption) [113]. As for indirect consumption (such as food additives and supplements), it is controlled by EC regulations No. 1333/2008 (which contains a list of authorized food additives and comprises eight additives derived from macroalgae under codes E401-E407a); EU No. 231/2012 (which contains details of the origin, composition, and use of accepted additives); EU No. 1379/2013 (which is necessary to indicate the origin and methodof production or harvest, establishing the common organization of fishing and aquaculture markets); EC No. 1924/2006 (where EFSA assesses the scientific evidence verifying nutritional allegations, e.g., \"rich in fiber,\" \"source of vitamin/mineral x,\" or \"contains vitamin/mineral x\"); and Anne XIII of EU No. 1169/2011 (nutritional information regulation for vitamins and minerals) [113]. Because algae have the propensity to collect toxins, we can propose the following regulations: CE No. 1881/2006 (establishes maximum levels for certain toxic substances, such as heavy metals, for certain foods); CE No. 396/2005 (relating to maximum limits for pesticide residues in food and animal feed, being 0.01 mg/kg of mercury); CE No. 1881/2006 (constitutes a market barrier for most food products derived from macroalgae); and EU Recommendation No. 2018/464 (for monitoring the levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and iodine in foods for human and animal consumption). However, there are still gaps in the regulations in terms of maximum levels and whether the levels are for dry or fresh weight. In pharmacology, medications are authorized through one of four procedures: the centralized method, wherein the European Medicines Agency evaluates evidence and the EU Commission issues the license; the national procedure; the mutual recognition procedure; or the decentralized procedure. In addition to the \"normal\" approval procedure for synthetic medicines, Directive 2011/83/EC establishes distinct procedures for (i) herbal medicines and (ii) traditional herbal medicines. Algae ingredients and preparations are considered herbal remedies [113]. There are international standards that can be met not only in Europe but also around the world. The ISO 22000 standard (Food Safety Management System) is based on the internationally recognized Codex Alimentarius HACCP principles. It proposes to the market and consumers that there is a management system capable of providing safe products from suppliers to the market, including establishments, cleaning, waste, and pest control [114; 115].