Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of VevoVitall® (benzoic acid) as feed additive for pigs for reproduction

VevoVitall® consists of 99.9 % benzoic acid. The product was previously assessed by the FEEDAP Panel; it is authorised in the EU for piglets and pigs for fattening. There is no new information that might modify the assessment of the safety for users and the environment. Thus, this opinion focuses only on the safety for the target animals and the efficacy, the new studies provided for the characterisation of the additive, and the new literature relevant to consumer safety. A tolerance study with gestating and lactating sows was provided. A urinary pH that was too low in the group receiving the highest dose could indicate an adverse effect. The only effect of concern (gastric ulcers) was detected by necropsy in animals which received VevoVitall® at levels of 10000 or 20000 mg/kg feed; however, the number of animals was insufficient to draw conclusions on a safe concentration of VevoVitall® for gestating/lactating sows; owing to the lack of data no conclusion could be reached for boars and gilts. Benzoic acid may induce genotoxic changes in human lymphocytes in vitro; however, in vivo genotoxicity studies have been consistently negative. Considering also that no significant consumer exposure is expected from the use of benzoic acid as feed additive, no concerns for consumer safety were identified. VevoVitall® at 5000 mg/kg significantly reduced urine pH in the four studies evaluated; this reduction was small and unlikely to affect ammonia emission from manure. The addition of ≥10000 mg/kg had a much greater impact on urinary pH in the studies where these levels were considered, but the consequences for ammonia emission could not be established. Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel was unable to draw conclusions on the efficacy of VevoVitall® in reducing ammonia emission from manure of gestating/lactating sows or, owing to the lack of data, for boars and gilts.