EU Confirms Safety of Sepiolite as Animal Feed Additive

The latest news on July 18, 2024 shows that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), at the request of the European Commission, has conducted an assessment of the safety of sepiolite as an additive to all animal feed under its subordinate EU Animal Feed Additives and Products (FEEDAP) research group. After a thorough and in-depth study by a panel of experts, they agreed that this additive is safe for both consumers and the environment. At the maximum recommended level of 20,000 mg/kg of full-priced feed, the additive is safe for all animal species.

Experts point out that sepiolite is widely used in the animal feed industry as a spray drying agent, thickener, binder and anti-caking agent. The results of the evaluation showed that the additive did not cause skin and eye irritation. However, because it may produce dust during use and contains silica, appropriate protective measures need to be taken during use to prevent irritation to the respiratory system caused by inhalation of dust.

In general, the European Food Safety Authority has affirmed the safety of sepiolite as an animal feed additive, providing a scientific basis for member States to approve the use of the additive in feed. This conclusion helps to safeguard the health of animals and humans, and also helps to protect the environment. This result not only provides new options for the feed industry, but also provides an important guarantee for the safety of consumers and the environment.