The approval takes effect on July 23, 2026, and from then, companies in Europe can use the ingredient in food supplements for the general adult population at levels up to 500 mg per day.
Eggnovo applied for approval in 2022, and after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed the ingredient’s safety, it concluded that the ingredient is safe for healthy adults, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The company also receives five years of protection for its proprietary scientific data, meaning it has exclusive rights to use the approved research supporting this ingredient until July 23, 2031, unless another company gains approval using its own independent data.
The EU has also changed the ingredient name from “egg membrane collagen peptides” to “egg membrane hydrolysate (enzymatically produced)” because the ingredient contains other proteins and compounds, not just collagen.
Maria Marchueta, marketing manager at Eggnovo, told NutraIngredients that the updated name better reflects the true nature of the ingredient.
“While collagen is one of its naturally occurring components, the ingredient is much more than collagen peptides,: Marchueta said. “It is an enzymatically produced hydrolysate of eggshell membrane, containing a complex matrix of proteins and bioactive compounds.
“We believe this terminology provides a more accurate description of the ingredient.”
Developing eggshell membrane collagen
The Spanish biotechnology company develops collagen ingredients from discarded eggshell membranes, converting a food industry by-product into a functional ingredient within a circular economy model.
Its patented water-based extraction process is designed to preserve naturally occurring bioactive compounds without the use of harsh chemicals. The resulting ingredient is produced by enzymatically hydrolysing chicken ESM into a water-soluble protein hydrolysate.
The ESM ingredient contains collagen types I, V and X, as well as naturally occurring glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans and more than 400 proteins, including those rich in sulfur-containing amino acids.
Research on ESM ingredients has examined their potential role in supporting joint health, skin hydration and elasticity, hair and nail strength and general wellness.
The company’s ESM-based collagen ingredients are positioned as a concentrated alternative to traditional animal-derived collagen sources, with a daily intake recommendation of approximately 300 mg, compared with higher daily quantities commonly used for some conventional collagen supplements.
Its ingredient portfolio includes Ovomet for joint health applications, Ovoderm for beauty and skin-focused formulations, and Ovocet, a calcium ingredient derived from eggshells for bone health applications.
Marchueta told NI that while the approval means Eggnovo can enter the European market and create new opportunities for our partners, the novel food approval was ‘much more’ than a commercial milestone.
“It validates a scientific and technological approach that started years ago: transforming an underutilized natural resource into a new generation of functional ingredients through biotechnology,” she said.
European approval expands potential uses for eggshell membrane
Eggnovo’s new European authorization marks a significant milestone in the evolution of eggshell membrane technology, opening new opportunities for functional ingredient innovation across the health and nutrition markets, Marchueta said.
“For the first time, it makes it possible to bring the clinically validated efficacy of Eggnovo’s eggshell membrane ingredients into highly demanded liquid supplement formats,” she said. “Thanks to Eggnovo’s enzymatic process, the ingredient is water-soluble, offering formulation possibilities that have not previously been available within the eggshell membrane category.”
Furthermore, the approval will allow Eggnovo to expand the application of its technology into additional food and cosmetic sectors, Marchueta explained.
“It supports our long-term vision of expanding the applications of this technology into additional food categories and cosmetic products, where the unique properties of the ingredient may offer significant value,” she said.
“Consumers are increasingly looking for solutions that help them stay active, age well and maintain their quality of life.
“We see particularly strong opportunities in healthy aging, joint health, mobility and beauty from within—areas where scientific substantiation and ingredient differentiation are becoming increasingly important for brands.”
