piglets and calves and provisionally authorised for its use in chickens for fattening in powder and coated forms. The applicant is requesting the authorisation of a new water-miscible form of the product, and the renewal of the powder form and the withdrawal of the coated form. Lactiferm® is intended for use at a range of 5 x 108 - 2 x 1010 CFU/kg feedstuffs. It is also intended to be used in water for drinking for piglets in the range of 2 x 108 to 8 x 109 CFU/L water. E. faecium NCIMB 11181 does not contain marker genes typical of hospital associated isolates responsible for clinical infections and does not harbour acquired genes coding for antibiotic resistance. Lactiferm® is safe for weaned piglets and calves at the recommended dose range. Since neither the active agent nor the other components of the additive give rise to concerns, the FEEDAP Panel considers the use of the additive safe for consumers. Given the lack of specific information and its proteinaceous nature and the high dusting potential, in particular of the water soluble form, Lactiferm® should be considered to have the potential to be an irritant to eye and skin and a skin/respiratory sensitiser. E. faecium is a natural component of gut microbiota and its use as Lactiferm® in animal feeding would not be expected to pose any additional risk for the environment. Lactiferm® is efficacious in improving zootechnical performance of piglets and calves. The
minimum effective dose for piglets is in the order of 1 x 1010 CFU/kg feed and for calves in the region of 2 x 109 CFU/kg milk replacer. The FEEDAP Panel considers evidence of efficacy to be independent of route of delivery provided that the same dose is given.
