Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Bactocell ( Pediococcus acidilactici) as a feed additive for use in water for drinking for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, laying hens and chickens for fattening

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of the feed additive Bactocell PA 10 in water for drinking for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, chickens for fattening and laying hens under the category of zootechnical additives. Bactocell PA 10 is the trade name for a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici. This product is already authorised for use in diets for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, chickens for fattening, laying hens, salmonids and shrimp. The additive is intended for use in water for drinking at the dose of 5.0 x 108 CFU/L water. This dose is half of that authorised in complete feed for the same target animals and would provide essentially the same exposure given that water consumption is approximately two to three fold greater than feed consumption. Consequently, the conclusions on safety and efficacy of the additive when used in feedingstuffs also apply to its use in water for drinking for weaned piglets, pigs for fattening, chickens for fattening and laying hens.