EU Declares Safety of Nematophilic Fungus NCIMB 30336 Feed Additive for Herbivores

In a recent development, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the safety of the nematophilic fungus NCIMB 30336 as a feed additive for all herbivores. Published by the FEEDAP Research Group, this assessment, conducted at the request of the European Commission, affirms the safety of the additive for consumers under the proposed conditions of use.

The expert panel, after thorough evaluation, has determined that the utilization of the additive poses no concerns for consumers when applied according to the recommended conditions. However, due to insufficient data, the panel could not reach definitive conclusions regarding the safety of the additive for other grazing species or categories.

The assessment was initiated following a request from the European Commission, directing the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of the feed additive containing Duddingtonia flagrans NCIMB 30336, known as BioWorma®, for all grazing animals.

While the safety and efficacy of the additive had been previously evaluated, limitations in the dataset provided hindered the panel from reaching conclusive opinions for the target species and consumers. To address this, the applicant submitted a new tolerance trial for dairy cows and additional toxicological studies for the current assessment.

Upon reviewing the new data, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the feed additive poses no concerns for dairy cows under the proposed conditions of use. This conclusion is extrapolated to include all dairy bovines, ovines, and caprines, excluding fattening and rearing animals of those species due to the existing data limitations.

Despite these limitations, the FEEDAP Panel affirmed the safety of the additive for consumers, marking a significant milestone in ensuring the well-being of herbivores and the end consumers of their products. This assessment reinforces the commitment to stringent safety standards in the utilization of feed additives within the European Union.