Assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of Actisaf® Sc 47 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407) as a feed additive for calves for rearing

Assessment of the feed additive consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407 (Actisaf® Sc 47) for rabbits for fattening and non-food producing rabbits for the renewal of its authorisation (S. I. Lesaffre)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of a preparation of dried cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407 (Actisaf® Sc 47) as a zootechnical additive for rabbits for fattening and non-food producing rabbits. The applicant provided evidence that the additive currently in the market complies with the existing terms of the authorisation. The Panel concluded that the additive remains safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. Regarding the safety for the user, the additive is not a skin or eye irritant. However, it should be considered as a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The present application for renewal of the authorisation did not include a proposal for amending or supplementing the conditions of the original authorisation that would have an impact on the efficacy of the additive. Therefore, there was no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Efficacy of the feed additive consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407 (Actisaf® Sc47) for cattle for fattening (Lesaffre International)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-4407 (Actisaf® Sc47) as a zootechnical feed additive (functional group: gut flora stabiliser) in cattle for fattening. The additive is already authorised for use in feed for dairy cows, calves for rearing, lambs for fattening, dairy goats, dairy sheep and dairy buffaloes. In a previous opinion, the EFSA Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) concluded that Actisaf® Sc47 was safe for cattle for fattening, the consumers and the environment. Additionally, the Panel considered that Actisaf® Sc47 is not a skin irritant, and no conclusions could be drawn on the additive's eye irritancy and dermal sensitisation potential. Due to the lack of adequate data, the Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive in cattle for fattening at the proposed conditions of use. In the current application, the applicant submitted three trials to support the efficacy in cattle for fattening. However, two of them were not considered for the assessment. The other trial showed an improved zootechnical performance of the animals at the proposed use level of 4 × 109 CFU/kg complete feed. Considering the additive is authorised in dairy cows and calves for rearing and the requirements of the current Guidance on the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives, no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary to extrapolate the conclusions previously reached to all ruminants. The significant positive effect shown in one trial in cattle for fattening supports the above extrapolation. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that Actisaf® Sc47 is efficacious as a zootechnical additive for cattle for fattening at the proposed conditions of use.

Safety of potassium diformate (Formi™ LHS) as a feed additive for sows, from ADDCON EUROPE GmbH

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of potassium diformate as a feed additive for sows (brand name Formi™ LHS). The additive was re-evaluated by the Panel in 2009. In its assessment on the renewal of the additive adopted by the FEEDAP Panel in 2020, the Panel concluded that the information provided by the applicant did not fulfil the minimum requirements to support that Formi™ LHS remained safe under the approved conditions for target species, consumers and users. In the same opinion, the Panel concluded that the use of Formi™ LHS under the approved conditions remained safe for the environment. In the present assessment, the applicant conducted a literature search to fulfil the data requirements for the renewal application and no relevant information regarding adverse effects in target animals (pigs, piglets and sows), consumers and users were identified. Based on this, and the fact that the manufacturing and composition of the additive have not been modified, the FEEDAP Panel considers that there is no evidence to reconsider the conclusions reached in the previous re-evaluation opinion adopted by the FEEDAP Panel in 2009. Therefore, the Panel concludes that the additive remains safe for sows and the consumer under the authorised conditions of use. Regarding user safety, the Panel reiterates that for the additive, 'except for ocular irritation potential, no effects requiring specific user protection measures were found'.