(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 82/471/EEC (2).

(2)

L-tryptophan was authorised without a time limit pursuant to Directive 82/471/EEC by Commission Directive 88/485/EEC (3). This feed additive was subsequently entered in the 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, applications were submitted for the re-evaluation of L- tryptophan as feed additive for all animal species. Applications were also submitted for the authorisation of L- tryptophan for all animal species in accordance with Article 7 of that Regulation. The 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 L-tryptophan produced by Escherichia coli KCCM 11132P, Escherichia coli DSM 25084, Escherichia coli FERM BP-11200, Escherichia coli FERM BP-11354, Escherichia coli CGMCC 7.59 or Escherichia coli CGMCC 3667 as a feed additive for all animal species, to be classified in the additive category ‘nutritional additives’.

(5)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinions of 11 September 2013 (4), 10 April 2014 (5), 9 September 2014 (6), 29 January 2015 (7), 10 September 2015 (8), 1 December 2015 (9), 25 January 2017 (10) and of 25 January 2017 (11) that, under the proposed conditions of use, L-tryptophan produced by Escherichia coli KCCM 11132P, Escherichia coli DSM 25084, Escherichia coli FERM BP-11200, Escherichia coli FERM BP-11354, Escherichia coli CGMCC 7.59 and Escherichia coli CGMCC 3667 does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment, and that it is considered an efficacious source of the essential amino acid tryptophan for animal nutrition; the applicant for L-tryptophan produced by Escherichia coli DSM 25084 provided evidence that, after a change of the manufacturing process, the endotoxin level of the additive was reduced to an acceptable level; for the supplemental L- tryptophan to be fully efficacious in ruminants, it should be protected against degradation in the rumen. 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.

(6)

The assessment of L-tryptophan 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 substance should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

(7)

Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation for L-tryptophan, 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,