Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of iron compounds (E1) as feed additives for all species: Ferrous sulphate monohydrate based on a dossier submitted by Kronos International, Inc

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of ferrous lysinate sulfate for all animal species (Phytobiotics Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of ferrous lysinate sulfate as nutritional feed additive for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) Panel was assigned to this mandate. Based on the results of a tolerance study, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that ferrous lysinate sulfate is safe in chickens for fattening when used up to the current maximum authorised levels of total iron in feed; this conclusion was extrapolated to all animal species and categories, at the respective maximum authorised iron levels in complete feed. The use of ferrous lysinate sulfate in animal nutrition up to the maximum iron content in complete feed authorised in the EU poses no concern to the safety of consumers. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that ferrous lysinate sulfate poses a risk to users by inhalation; the additive is not a dermal irritant, but is irritant to eyes and a skin sensitiser. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use of ferrous lysinate sulfate in animal nutrition would not pose a risk for the environment. Owing to the limitations in the study provided, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive for chickens for fattening, and thus, on the efficacy of ferrous lysinate sulfate for all animal species and categories.

Safety and efficacy of CI-FER™ (ferric citrate chelate) as a zootechnical feed additive for suckling and weaned piglets and minor porcine species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of CI-FER™ (ferric citrate chelate) as zootechnical feed additive for suckling and weaned piglets and minor porcine species. The additive is safe for weaned piglets at the recommended level of 500 mg/kg complete feed. This conclusion can be extended to sucking piglets for the period in which solid feed is given and extrapolated to all minor porcine species. No concerns for consumer safety are expected from the use of the additive in piglets and minor porcine species. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the compound under assessment poses a risk to users by inhalation. The product should also be considered as an irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the presence of nickel, CI-FER™ should also be considered as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The supplementation of feed with the additive is not expected to pose an environmental risk. CI-FER™ used at the minimum recommended level of 500 mg/kg feed has the potential to improve zootechnical parameters of weaned piglets. This conclusion can be extended to sucking piglets for the period in which solid feed is given and extrapolated to all minor porcine species.

Safety and efficacy of TYFER™ (ferric tyrosine chelate) as a zootechnical feed additive for chickens, turkeys and minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product TYFER™ (ferric tyrosine chelate) as zootechnical feed additive for chickens, turkeys and minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. The additive is safe for chickens for fattening at the maximum expected level of 200 mg TYFER™/kg complete feed; this conclusion can be extended to chickens reared for laying/breeding and extrapolated to turkeys and all minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. No concerns for consumer safety are expected from the use of the additive in poultry nutrition. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) considers that the additive poses a risk to users by inhalation, and should also be considered as an irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the presence of nickel, ferric tyrosine chelate should also be considered as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The supplementation of feed with the additive is not expected to pose an environmental risk. TYFER™ used at the minimum recommended level (20 mg/kg feed) in chickens diets has the potential to improve zootechnical parameters of birds. The additive at 20 mg/kg feed has the potential to reduce the caecal load Campylobacter spp. by at least 1 log₁₀-units in chickens for fattening, thus with a potential impact to reduce the risk of human campylobacteriosis; however, the Panel notes that the load of Campylobacter in the chickens caecum is one of the multiple factors that contribute to Campylobacter load in carcases-meat. The conclusions on the efficacy of the additive can be extended to chickens reared for laying/breeding and extrapolated to turkeys and all minor poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding. The Panel recommends including a specification for maximum lithium content in a potential authorisation of the additive.

Safety and efficacy of iron dextran as a feed additive for piglets

The additive, 'Iron dextran 10%', is a liquid preparation containing iron dextran (25%, of which 10% is total iron), sodium chloride (1.5%), phenol (0.4%) and water (73.1%). Iron dextran 10% is considered safe for suckling piglets when given at an oral dose of 1 mL/kg body weight (bw) once in each of the first 2 weeks of life; this dose corresponds to 100 mg Fe/kg bw. The administration of iron dextran 10% to piglets deficient in vitamin E and/or selenium is considered a risk. The oral use of iron dextran 10% in suckling piglets does not pose any safety concerns to consumers, provided that the conditions identified as safe for the target animal are respected. Iron dextran 10% is considered a respiratory sensitiser and may be harmful if inhaled; however, exposure by inhalation is not expected; therefore, the risk is considered to be negligible. Iron dextran 10% is an irritant to skin and eyes; a risk by skin sensitisation cannot be excluded. The presence of phenol in the additive should be considered to pose a hazard for users. The use of the additive for suckling piglets at the proposed level does not pose a safety concern to the environment. The available studies with orally administered iron dextran indicate that the additive is a bioavailable source of iron for suckling piglets; however, the efficacy of the additive when given to newborn pigs as proposed via water for drinking (voluntary intake) has not been demonstrated. The Panel proposed some recommendations regarding the dextran used in the manufacture of the additive and the procedure for administering the additive to piglets.