30.10.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 288/57

(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 orthophosphoric acid was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for use on all animal species by Commission Directive 76/603/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 orthophosphoric acid, CAS number 7664-38-2, as an additive for all animal species for use in feed, requesting that additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’ and the functional group ‘preservatives’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. The application includes also other uses of the same substance for which no decision has yet been taken.

(4)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 13 December 2012 (4) that, under the proposed conditions of use in feed, orthophosphoric acid does not have an adverse effect on animal and consumer health, and it is not expected to pose additional risk for the environment and it has the potential to preserve feed. The Authority also 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 the preparation of orthophosphoric acid shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that 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 the additive, pre-mixtures and compound feed containing it, as authorised by Directive 76/603/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,