(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 an authorisation.

(2)

In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of a preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 as a feed additive. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(3)

The application concerns the authorisation of a preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, turkeys for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys reared for breeding and all minor avian species (including also sporting, ornamental and exotic birds) to slaughter or point of lay (‘the target species’), requesting that additive to be classified in the category ‘zootechnical additives’ and in the functional group ‘gut flora stabilisers’.

(4)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinions of 26 January 2022 (2) and of 12 May 2023 (3) that, under the proposed conditions of use, the preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. It also concluded that the preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 is not irritant to skin but potentially irritant to eyes, and that it should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. Since no test of skin sensitisation was provided, the Authority could not draw conclusions on the skin sensitisation potential of that preparation. The Authority further concluded that the preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844, has the potential to be efficacious for the target species when supplemented at 2,0 × 108 CFU/kg complete feed, and is compatible with the coccidiostats diclazuril, decoquinate, halofuginone, monensin, salinomycin, narasin, robenidine and maduramicin. It did not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. The Authority also verified the report on the methods of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(5)

In view of the above, the Commission considers that the preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 satisfies the conditions for authorisation provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Furthermore, in accordance with the Authority’s guidance on the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives (4), it should be considered that that preparation has the potential to be efficacious for the target species when supplemented at 1,0 × 108 CFU/l drinking water. Accordingly, the use of the preparation of Bacillus velezensis NITE BP-01844 should be authorised for all poultry species for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys reared for breeding, minor poultry species reared for laying or for breeding and ornamental birds, including when supplemented in the drinking water. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects on the health of the users of the additive.

(6)

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