The Parma based risk assessor said the Dutch group’s feed ingredient, Crina Poultry Plus, which is a mixture of benzoic acid, thymol, eugenol and piperine, has “some potential to be efficacious” in chickens for fattening at a dose of 300 mg per kilogram of complete feed.
It said the same conclusions could be drawn on its effectiveness in chickens reared for laying and minor poultry species for fattening and reared for laying at the same dose.
In a previous assessment, EFSA’s FEEDAP Panel said it could not conclude on the safety of the additive for chickens for fattening, the consumer nor the environment.
It also could not conclude on its efficacy in its 2012 opinion, saying: ‘A significant effect relative to performance was shown in only one of the eight studies taken for the demonstration of efficacy. In the view of the FEEDAP Panel, this is insufficient to establish efficacy’.
DSM subsequently submitted additional data to the assessment body in a bid to get a positive opinion for the poultry feed ingredient, in particular two new trials said to support its efficacy claims.
Poultry gut health
Dr Cristophe Paulus, global marketing manager at DSM, told FeedNavigator today the company was very excited about the regulatory development: “The product delivers clear benefits in enhancing poultry’s gut health and EFSA has now confirmed its safety, quality and efficacy, which opens the door to a European holder-specific registration,” he said.
He said the additive will support EU chicken producers in attaining more “profitable and sustainable production."
The opinion
Based on the results of a tolerance study that DSM had included in the additional supporting data it sent to EFSA, the Panel said the additive is safe for chickens for fattening at the maximum recommended dose as well as the other poultry species mentioned in the application.
The safety of all components of the additive, with the exception of eugenol and piperine, was established in a previous opinion, said EFSA. New data on the metabolism of eugenol and on residues of eugenol and piperine indicated that exposure of consumers to residues of these substances would not be expected, it added.
The Panel also found there was no concern for the environment linked to the use of the ingredient.
EFSA found that three out of ten studies sent to it showed some beneficial effect in terms of the zootechnical functionality of the additive:
“The applicant has provided 10 studies on efficacy, eight considered in the previous opinion and two in the current submission. Of these 10 studies, three showed a significant benefit on some zootechnical parameters of Crina Poultry Plus at a dose of 300 mg/kg complete feed. In particular, in all three positive studies, feed to gain ratio was significantly improved. Therefore, the Panel concludes that the additive has some potential to be efficacious in chickens for fattening.”
The EFSA opinion can be read here.