22.2.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 49/52

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation. Article 10 of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2).

(2)

A preparation of Sodium hydroxide, CAS number 1310-73-2, was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for use on cats and dogs by Commission Directive 86/525/EEC (3). That preparation was subsequently entered in the Community Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(3)

In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of sodium hydroxide, CAS number 1310-73-2, as a feed additive for cats and dogs and, in accordance with Article 7 of that Regulation, for a new use for ornamental fish, requesting that additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(4)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 11 September 2012 (4) that, taking into account the fact that this additive was already authorised for food use with the same function and under the proposed conditions of use, sodium hydroxide does not have an adverse effect on animal health, and that its function in feed is essentially the same as in food as acidity regulator and therefore no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary. It concluded that no safety concerns would arise for users provided that appropriate protective measures are taken. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(5)

The assessment of sodium hydroxide shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of this preparation should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

(6)

Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation, it is appropriate to allow a transitional period for the disposal of existing stocks of additive, pre-mixtures and compound feed containing it, as authorised by Directive 86/525/EEC.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,