Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/540

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 nutrition^note, 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 such an authorisation. Article 10(2) of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC^note.

(2)Acacia gum was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for all animal species in the category ‘emulsifying and stabilizing agents, thickeners and gelling agents’. That substance was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1), point (b), of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(3)In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of acacia gum as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant requested the additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’ and in the functional groups ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’. The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. The applicant withdrew the application for the functional groups ‘thickeners’ and ‘gelling agents’.

(4)The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 24 June 2025^note, which revised its opinion of 17 September 2022^note, that, under the proposed conditions of use, acacia gum is safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment. The Authority also concluded that acacia gum is a potential dermal and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure by dermal or inhalation routes is considered a risk. The Authority further concluded that acacia gum is efficacious as an emulsifier and in stabilising emulsions over time, which would support its efficacy as a stabiliser. The Authority also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(5)In view of the above, the Commission considers that acacia gum satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised. 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.

(6)Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the substance concerned, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.

(7)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 1Authorisation#

The substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘technological additives’ and to the functional group ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.

Article 2Transitional measures#

1.The feed additive acacia gum, as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 1 October 2026 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 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 1 April 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for food-producing animals.

3.Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 1 April 2028 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for non-food producing animals.

Article 3Entry 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 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 active substance/kg complete feed with 12 % moisture content
Category: technological additives. Functional group: emulsifiers
1c414	Acacia gum	Additive compositionAcacia gumSolid formPurity:Loss on drying: ≤ 10 %Total ash: ≤ 4 %Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 %Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 %Characterisation of the active substanceAcacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of strains of Acacia senegal (L) Willdenow or closely related species of Acacia (family Leguminosae).It is constituted by high molecular weight polysaccharides, whose sugar chain is made of neutral sugars (galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/or their salts.CAS No: 9000-01-5Analytical method^noteFor the characterisation of Acacia gum (feed additive):European Pharmacopoeia monograph 0307 or 0308, andCommission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and the corresponding tests in the FAO JECFA Compendium	Turkeys for fattening	-	-	375	1. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.2. 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 skin, eye and breathing protective equipment.	1 April 2036
Chickens for fattening or reared for laying or for reproductionMinor poultry for fattening or reared for laying or for reproductionOrnamental birds	-	-	278
Poultry for laying or for reproduction	-	-	415
Porcine species for fattening	-	-	600
Piglets of porcine species			500
Sows of porcine species	-	-	729
Veal calves (milk replacer)	-	-	1164
OvinesCaprines	-	-	1100
Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for fattening or reared for milk production or for reproductionEquidsCats	-	-	1100
Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction	-	-	715
Leporids	-	-	440
Food-producing finfish			1257
Dogs	-	-	1320
Ornamental fish			4889
Other animal species	-	-	278

Identification number of the additive	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 active substance/kg complete feed with 12 % moisture content
Category: technological additives. Functional group: stabilisers
1c414	Acacia gum	Additive compositionAcacia gumSolid formPurity:Loss on drying: ≤ 10 %Total ash: ≤ 4 %Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 %Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 %Characterisation of the active substanceAcacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of strains of Acacia senegal (L) Willdenow or closely related species of Acacia (family Leguminosae).It is constituted by high molecular weight polysaccharides, whose sugar chain is made of neutral sugars (galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/or their salts.CAS No: 9000-01-5Analytical method^noteFor the characterisation of Acacia gum (feed additive):European Pharmacopoeia monograph 0307 or 0308, andCommission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and the corresponding tests in the FAO JECFA Compendium	Turkeys for fattening	-	-	375	1. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.2. 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 skin, eye and breathing protective equipment.	1 April 2036
Chickens for fattening or reared for laying or for reproductionMinor poultry for fattening or reared for laying or for reproductionOrnamental birds	-	-	278
Poultry for laying or for reproduction	-	-	415
Porcine species for fattening	-	-	600
Piglets of porcine species			500
Sows of porcine species	-	-	729
Veal calves (milk replacer)	-	-	1164
Ovines and caprines	-	-	1100
Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for fattening or reared for milk production or for reproductionEquidsCats	-	-	1100
Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction	-	-	715
Leporids	-	-	440
Food-producing finfish			1257
Dogs	-	-	1320
Ornamental fish			4889
Other animal species	-	-	278