14.1.2015   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 8/4

(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)

The preparation of Lactobacillus acidophilus CECT 4529 was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for laying hens by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1520/2007 (3). That preparation was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1)(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 of that Regulation, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of the preparation of Lactobacillus acidophilus CECT 4529 as a feed additive for laying hens and, in accordance with Article 7 of that Regulation, for a new use in water for drinking, requesting that additive to be classified in the additive category ‘zootechnical 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 1 July 2014 (4) that, under the proposed conditions of use, the preparation of Lactobacillus acidophilus CECT 4529 does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment. The Authority further concluded that the use of the preparation has the potential to increase laying intensity and improve the feed-to-egg mass ratio. It considered that the results are independent of the mode of administration provided that the exposure in water for drinking is the same by an equivalent dose to feed. The Authority does not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. 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 Lactobacillus acidophilus CECT 4529 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)

As a consequence of the granting of a new authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Regulation (EC) No 1520/2007 should be amended accordingly.

(7)

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 interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.

(8)

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

(1)

Article 4 is deleted.

(2)

Annex IV is deleted.