Contents
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutritionnote, and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,Whereas:
(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 and renewing such an authorisation.
(2)Benzoic acid was authorised for a period of 10 years as a feed additive for sows by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/900note, for minor porcine species for fattening and for reproduction by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/983note, for weaned piglets by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1550note, and for pigs for fattening by Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/1550 and (EU) 2020/1031note.
(3)In accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the renewal of the authorisation of benzoic acid as a feed additive for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, sows, minor porcine species for fattening, and sows and boars of minor porcine species. The application requested that additive to be classified in the category ‘zootechnical additives’ and in the functional group ‘other zootechnical additives’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(4)The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 27 January 2026note that the applicant has provided evidence that benzoic acid remains safe for the target species, as well as for the consumers and the environment. It also concluded that benzoic acid should be considered irritant to skin, eyes and respiratory tract and was not considered a potential skin sensitiser. The Authority stated that the application for renewal of the authorisation does not include a proposal for amending or supplementing the conditions of the original authorisation that would have an impact on the efficacy of the additive. Therefore, it concluded that there is no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation. It did not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring.
(5)The Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 considered that the conclusions and recommendations reached in the assessment carried out regarding the method of analysis of benzoic acid as a feed additive in the context of the previous authorisation are valid and applicable for the current application. In accordance with Article 5(4), point (c), of Commission Regulation (EC) No 378/2005note, an evaluation report of the Reference Laboratory is therefore not required.
(6)In view of the above, the Commission considers that benzoic acid satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the authorisation of that additive should be renewed for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, sows, minor porcine species for fattening, and sows and boars of minor porcine species. 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.
(7)As a consequence of the renewal of the authorisation of benzoic acid as a feed additive, Implementing Regulations (EU) 2016/900, (EU) 2018/983, (EU) 2018/1550 and (EU) 2020/1031 should be repealed.
(8)Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of benzoic acid, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the renewal of the authorisation.
(9)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1Renewal of authorisation#
The authorisation of the substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘zootechnical additives’ and to the functional group ‘other zootechnical additives’ is renewed subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.
Article 2Repeal#
Implementing Regulations (EU) 2016/900, (EU) 2018/983, (EU) 2018/1550 and (EU) 2020/1031 are repealed.
Article 3Transitional measures#
1.The feed additive benzoic acid, as authorised by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2016/900, (EU) 2018/983, (EU) 2018/1550 and (EU) 2020/1031 and premixtures containing that additive, which are produced and labelled before 18 February 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 18 August 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted.
2.Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 18 August 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 18 August 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted.
Article 4Entry into force#
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
| Identification number of the additive | Name of the holder of authorisation | Name of the additive | Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical method | Species or category of animal | Maximum age | Minimum content | Maximum content | Other provisions | End of period of authorisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mg of active substance/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12 % | |||||||||
| Category: zootechnical additives. Functional group: other zootechnical additives (improvement of performance parameters: weight gain or feed-to-gain ratio) | |||||||||
| 4d210 | DSM Nutritional Products Ltd represented by DSM Nutritional Products Sp. z o. o. | Benzoic acid | Additive compositionBenzoic acid (≥ 99,9 %)Solid form.Characterisation of the active substanceBenzoic acidnoteC7H6O2CAS number 65-85-0Impurities:Phthalic acid: ≤ 100 mg/kgBiphenyl: ≤ 100 mg/kgAnalytical methodsnoteFor the determination of benzoic acid in the feed additive, premixtures and compound feed: High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) – EN 17298. | Weaned piglets | — | 5000 | 5000 | 1. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.2. The additive shall not be used with other sources of benzoic acid or benzoates.3. Indicate in the directions for use of the additive, premixtures and related feed: Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall not be fed to weaned piglets as such. Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall be thoroughly mixed with other feed materials of the daily ration..4. For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal eye and skin protective equipment. | 18 August 2036 |
| Category: zootechnical additives. Functional group: other zootechnical additives (urinary pH decrease) | |||||||||
| 4d210 | DSM Nutritional Products Ltd represented by DSM Nutritional Products Sp. z o. o. | Benzoic acid | Additive compositionBenzoic acid (≥ 99,9 %)Solid form.Characterisation of the active substanceBenzoic acidnoteC7H6O2CAS number 65-85-0Impurities:Phthalic acid: ≤ 100 mg/kgBiphenyl: ≤ 100 mg/kgAnalytical methodsnoteFor the determination of benzoic acid in the feed additive, premixtures and compound feed: High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) – EN 17298. | Pigs for fatteningSows | — | 5000 | 10000 | 1. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.2. The additive shall not be used with other sources of benzoic acid or benzoates.3. Indicate in the directions for use of the additive, premixtures and related feed: Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall not be fed to pigs for fattening, sows, minor porcine species for fattening and sows and boars of minor porcine species as such. Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall be thoroughly mixed with other feed materials of the daily ration..4. For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal eye and skin protective equipment. | 18 August 2036 |
| Minor porcine species for fatteningSows and boars of minor porcine species | — | 5000 | 5000 | ||||||
| Category: zootechnical additives. Functional group: other zootechnical additives (improvement of performance parameters) | |||||||||
| 4d210 | DSM Nutritional Products Ltd represented by DSM Nutritional Products Sp. z o. o. | Benzoic acid | Additive compositionBenzoic acid (≥ 99,9 %)Solid form.Characterisation of the active substanceBenzoic acidnoteC7H6O2CAS number 65-85-0Impurities:Phthalic acid: ≤ 100 mg/kgBiphenyl: ≤ 100 mg/kgAnalytical methodsnoteFor the determination of benzoic acid in the feed additive, premixtures and compound feed: High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) – EN 17298. | Pigs for fattening | — | 3000 | 10000 | 1. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.2. The additive shall not be used with other sources of benzoic acid or benzoates.3. Indicate in the directions for use of the additive, premixtures and related feed: Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall not be fed to pigs for fattening as such. Complementary feed containing benzoic acid shall be thoroughly mixed with other feed materials of the daily ration..4. For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal eye and skin protective equipment. | 18 August 2036 |
Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.