19.9.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 252/17

(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(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 10(1) to (4) thereof sets out specific provisions for the evaluation of products used in the Union as silage additives at the date that Regulation became applicable.

(2)

In accordance with Article 10(1)(b) and Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) were entered in the Community Register of Feed Additives as existing products belonging to the functional group of silage additives, for all animal species.

(3)

In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, applications were submitted for the authorisation of the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) as feed additives for all animal species, requesting those additives to be classified in the category ‘technological additives’ and in the functional group ‘silage additives’. Those applications were accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(4)

The applications concern the authorisation of the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) as feed additives for all animal species, to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’.

(5)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 13 December 2011 (2) that, under the proposed conditions of use, the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) do not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment, and that these micro-organisms have the potential to improve the production of silage from all forages by increasing the preservation of dry matter and reducing the loss of protein. The Authority also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additives in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(6)

The assessment of the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of those micro-organisms should be authorised as specified in the Annexes to this Regulation.

(7)

Since modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the micro-organisms Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 41028) and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCIMB 30148) are introduced and as there are no direct immediate effects on safety, a reasonable period should be allowed to elapse before authorisation in order to allow the interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation. In addition, it is appropriate to allow a transitional period for the disposal of existing stocks of those micro-organisms and of feed containing them.

(8)

It is disproportionately complex for operators to adapt repeatedly and from one day to the other labels of feed containing different additives which have been successively authorised according to the procedure laid down in Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 and for which new labelling rules are to be complied with. It is therefore appropriate to reduce the administrative burden on the operators by providing a period of time allowing a smooth conversion of labelling.

(9)

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