Commission Regulation (EC) No 1876/2006 of 18 December 2006 concerning the provisional and permanent authorisation of certain additives in feedingstuffs (Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs⁽¹⁾, and in particular Articles 3, 9d(1) and 9e(1) thereof,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition⁽²⁾, and in particular Article 25 thereof,

Whereas:

1. Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition.

2. Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 lays down transitional measures for applications for the authorisation of feed additives submitted in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

3. The applications for the authorisation of the additives listed in the Annexes to this Regulation were submitted before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

4. Initial comments on those applications, as provided for in Article 4(4) of Directive 70/524/EEC, were forwarded to the Commission before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Those applications are therefore to continue to be treated in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 70/524/EEC.

5. Data were submitted in support of an application for authorisation of the use of the micro-organism preparation of Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM MA 67/4R for chickens for fattening, turkeys for fattening and laying hens. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) expressed its opinion on the use of this preparation on 11 July 2006. The assessment shows that the conditions laid down in Article 9e(1) of Directive 70/524/EEC for such authorisation are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that micro-organism preparation, as specified in Annex I to this Regulation, should be authorised for four years.

6. Data were submitted in support of an application for authorisation of the use of the enzyme preparation of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum (ATCC 2105), endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase and alpha-amylase produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (DSM 9553), subtilisin produced by Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 2107), polygalacturonase produced by Aspergillus aculeatus (CBS 589.94) for turkeys for fattening. On 15 June 2006 EFSA delivered its opinion on the use of this preparation which concludes that it does not present a risk for the consumer, the user, the animal category targeted or the environment. The assessment shows that the conditions laid down in Article 9e(1) of Directive 70/524/EEC for such authorisation are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that enzyme preparation, as specified in Annex II to this Regulation, should be authorised for four years.

7. The use of the enzyme preparation of endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase and endo-1,4-beta-xylanase produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum (ATCC 74252) was provisionally authorised for the first time for laying hens and piglets by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2188/2002⁽³⁾. New data were submitted in support of an application for authorisation without a time limit of that enzyme preparation. The assessment shows that the conditions laid down in Article 3a of Directive 70/524/EEC for such authorisation are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that enzyme preparation, as specified in Annex III to this Regulation, should be authorised without a time limit.

8. The use of the preparation of sodium benzoate, propionic acid and sodium propionate was provisionally authorised for the first time for pigs and dairy cows by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1252/2002⁽⁴⁾. New data were submitted in support of an application for authorisation without a time limit of that preservative preparation. The assessment shows that the conditions laid down in Article 3a of Directive 70/524/EEC for such authorisation are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that preservative preparation, as specified in Annex IV to this Regulation, should be authorised without a time limit.

9. The assessment of these applications shows that certain procedures should be required to protect workers from exposure to the additives set out in the Annexes. Such protection should be assured by the application of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work⁽⁵⁾.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: