(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 and modifying such authorisation.

(2)

Nonanoic acid was authorised for 10 years as a feed additive for all animal species by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/53 (2).

(3)

In accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, the Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) to issue an opinion on whether the authorisation of nonanoic acid as feed additive would still meet the conditions laid down in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 if the terms of that authorisation were modified. The modification concerns an increase in the recommended maximum content of a feed additive consisting of nonanoic acid. The request was accompanied by the relevant supporting data.

(4)

The Authority concluded in its opinion of 1 February 2024 (3) that nonanoic acid is safe for all poultry for fattening, all poultry reared for laying or breeding, all Suidae for fattening and suckling and weaned piglets of all Suidae at 100 mg/kg feed. It further concluded that the modification of the existing authorisation of the additive would not modify the conclusions on the safety for the consumer and the environment reached in its opinion of 5 April 2013 (4). The Authority also concluded that since nonanoic acid is recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary. The Authority could not conclude on the additive’s irritancy to skin and eyes nor on its potential for dermal and respiratory sensitisation.

(5)

In view of the above, the Commission considers that the authorisation of the preparation of nonanoic acid as a feed additive still meets the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 when increasing the maximum inclusion level of a feed additive consisting of nonanoic acid from 5 to 100 mg/kg complete feed for all poultry for fattening, all poultry reared for laying or breeding, all Suidae for fattening, and suckling and weaned piglets of all Suidae.

(6)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/53 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

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

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100 mg for all poultry for fattening;

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100 mg for all poultry reared for laying or breeding;

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100 mg for piglets (suckling and weaned) of all Suidae;

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100 mg for all Suidae for fattening;

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5 mg for other animal species and categories.’