Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus velezensis CECT 5940 (Ecobiol®) for laying hens and other birds for egg production (Evonik Operations GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus velezensis CECT 5940 (Ecobiol®) as a zootechnical feed additive for laying hens and other birds for egg production. The additive is authorised for use in feed for chickens for fattening and reared for laying, turkeys for fattening and reared for breeding, minor poultry species for fattening and reared for laying and ornamental birds (except for reproduction). With the current application the applicant is seeking the authorisation for a new use in feed for laying hens and other bird species kept for egg production purposes. In addition, the applicant is seeking the modification of the strain taxonomy in the Ecobiol® authorisation for chickens for fattening and reared for laying from B. amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 to B. velezensis CECT 5940. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the active agent should be taxonomically designated as B. velezensis CECT 5940. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that Ecobiol® is also considered safe for the target species, including laying hens and other birds for egg production, consumer and the environment at the proposed conditions of use. Regarding user safety, the additive is considered a skin and respiratory sensitiser and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The additive is not irritant to eyes. The Panel concluded that Ecobiol® has the potential to be efficacious as a zootechnical additive when added at 1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg in the feed for chickens for fattening and laying hens. The conclusion reached in these species can be extrapolated to all poultry.