(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 an authorisation. Article 10(2) of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2).

(2)

The preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 (previously taxonomically identified as Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM MA 67/4R) was authorised for four years in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, turkeys for fattening and laying hens by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1876/2006 (3). That preparation was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1), point (b), 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 authorisation of the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, turkeys for fattening and laying hens. The applicant requested the additive to be classified in the additive category ‘zootechnical additives’ and in the functional group ‘other zootechnical additives’. The 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 opinions of 19 March 2020 (4), 5 May 2021 (5) and 11 May 2023 (6) that, under the proposed conditions of use, the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 is presumed safe for chickens for fattening, turkeys for fattening and laying hens, consumers and the environment. Regarding the safety for the user, the Authority could not conclude on the potential of the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 to be irritant to skin and eyes or its dermal sensitisation potential due to the lack of data, but concluded that that additive should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. The Authority concluded that the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 is efficacious as a zootechnical additive in chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening at the concentration of 8,5 × 108 CFU/kg complete feed. It did not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. The Authority also verified the report on the methods of analysis of the feed additives in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(5)

The applicant committed on 23 June 2023 to submit supplementary information with a view to demonstrate the efficacy of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 for laying hens. In addition, the applicant accepted by a letter of 8 August 2023 that the additive be classified in the functional group ‘gut flora stabilisers’ instead of ‘other zootechnical additives’.

(6)

In view of the above, the Commission considers that the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 for use in chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening. Accordingly, the use of that preparation should be authorised for chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects on the health of the users of the additive.

(7)

Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for the interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.

(8)

As a consequence of the authorisation of the preparation of Companilactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3740 as a feed additive for chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening, Regulation (EC) No 1876/2006 should be amended.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,