Efficacy of a preparation of algae interspaced bentonite as a feed additive for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of a preparation of algae interspaced bentonite when used as aflatoxin B1 (AfB1) binder for all animal species; the additive is composed of bentonite feed grade and algae belonging to Ulva spp. The European Commission request follows an opinion of the FEEDAP Panel published in 2016; in that opinion, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive. The applicant has submitted additional information to allow the FEEDAP Panel to complete its assessment; these additional data, related to the efficacy of the additive, are the subject of this opinion. In the efficacy study provided, the use of the additive reduced the AfM1 in milk, although this effect seemed to be not consistent over time; this study presented some weaknesses and limitations (incomplete data analysis, reporting and lack of determination of the active substance of the additive in feed) which do not allow the FEEDAP Panel to draw any conclusion on the efficacy of the additive. Due to insufficient evidence, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the efficacy of the algae interspaced bentonite as a technological feed additive for all animal species

Safety and efficacy of TYFER\u2122 (Ferric tyrosine chelate) as a zootechnical feed additive for chickens, turkeys and minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product TYFERTM (ferric tyrosine chelate) as zootechnical feed additive for chickens, turkeys and minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. The additive is safe for chickens for fattening at the maximum expected level of 200 mg TYFERTM/kg complete feed; this conclusion can be extended to chickens reared for laying/breeding and extrapolated to turkeys and all minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. No concerns for consumer safety are expected from the use of the additive in poultry nutrition. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) considers that the additive poses a risk to users by inhalation, and should also be considered as an irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the presence of nickel, ferric tyrosine chelate should also be considered as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The supplementation of feed with the additive is not expected to pose an environmental risk. TYFERTM used at the minimum recommended level (20 mg/kg feed) in chickens diets has the potential to improve zootechnical parameters of birds. The additive at 20 mg/kg feed has the potential to reduce the caecal load Campylobacter spp. by at least 1 log10-units in chickens for fattening, thus with a potential impact to reduce the risk of human campylobacteriosis; however, the Panel notes that the load of Campylobacter in the chickens caecum is one of the multiple factors that contribute to Campylobacter load in carcases-meat. The conclusions on the efficacy of the additive can be extended to chickens reared for laying/breeding and extrapolated to turkeys and all minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. The Panel recommends including a specification for maximum lithium content in a potential authorisation of the additive

Safety and efficacy of aluminosilicate of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium as a feed additive for pigs

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 aluminosilicate of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium as a feed additive for pigs. The additive, that contains at least 66% of aluminosilicate of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium as main component, is intended for use as a technological additive (functional groups: (i) anticaking agents) in premixtures and feedingstuffs for pigs at a maximum inclusion level of 30,000 mg/kg. In the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species and the users. The additive is considered safe for the consumer and the environment at the proposed conditions of use. The additive has the potential to act as an anticaking agent in complete feed of pigs at a concentration of 30,000 mg/kg feed

Efficacy of methyl ester of conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12 isomer) for sows and cows for reproduction

A mixture of methylated conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers (t10,c12 and c9,t11) in equal proportions is the subject of this assessment. The active substance is considered to be CLA (t10,c12) methyl ester (ME). The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) of EFSA previously issued an opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product, in which it could not conclude on the efficacy of this additive for sows for reproduction and for cows for reproduction. The European Commission asked EFSA to deliver an opinion on the efficacy of this additive for sows and cows for reproduction, based on additional data submitted by the applicant. The FEEDAP Panel has performed the assessment of the new data following an approach in line with the principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 429/2008 and the relevant guidance documents. In relation to the data on efficacy in sows for reproduction, owing to methodological shortcomings of the study submitted, including the duration of the study and the limited biological relevance of the effect observed, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the efficacy of CLA (t10,c12)-ME for sows for reproduction. The data related to dairy cows indicate that dietary CLA (t10,c12)-ME supplementation in the late dry period and/or lactation period showed an increase of the probability of pregnancy and a reduction of time to conception in the same reproductive cycle. However, considering that the minimum duration of efficacy studies for reproductive parameters is of at least two reproductive cycles, the FEEDAP Panel is not in a position to conclude on the efficacy of the additive for cows for reproduction

Water framework directive and specific pollutants in surface waters in Slovenia – Vodna directiva porsebna onesnazevala za povrsinske vode v sloveniji

According to the European Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC, 2000), the EU member states are required to prepare a list of specific pollutants and their environmental quality standards in the aquatic environment for the purpose of evaluating the ecological status of water. In addition, for the purpose of evaluating the chemical status, defined by the Directive 2013/39/EU (2013), a country must select biotic species that are relevant to surface water and determine the list of substances for monitoring in biota and/or sediment. In the period 2005-2010 we have successfully developed all the above mentioned standards and lists for Slovenia. In this article we present a list of river basin specific pollutants for surface water in Slovenia and their environmental quality standards compared to the values derived in The Netherlands, France and Germany. Values were derived for 29 specific pollutants and among them 6 are higher than in other countries. The review of background information on the derivation of environmental quality standards highlighted that a revision is needed for epichlorhydrin, hexachloroethane, terbutylazin and selenium. The presented approach serves as exemplary for similar evaluations to be carried out by various countries inside and outside Europe.Conservation Biolog

The QSPR-THESAURUS: the online platform of the CADASTER project

The aim of the CADASTER project (CAse Studies on the Development and Application of in Silico Techniques for Environmental Hazard and Risk Assessment) was to exemplify REACH-related hazard assessments for four classes of chemical compound, namely, polybrominated diphenylethers, per and polyfluorinated compounds, (benzo)triazoles, and musks and fragrances. The QSPR-THESAURUS website (http://qspr-thesaurus.eu) was established as the project\u2019s online platform to upload, store, apply, and also create, models within the project. We overview the main features of the website, such as model upload, experimental design and hazard assessment to support risk assessment, and integration with other web tools, all of which are essential parts of the QSPR-THESAURUS