Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Bactocell PA 10 ( Pediococcus acidilactici) as a feed additive for piglets

Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product Bactocell PA 10 as a feed additive for weaned piglets. Bactocell PA 10 is a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici. This product is already authorised for use in pigs, chickens for fattening, salmonids and shrimp. The applicant is now seeking authorisation for the use of Bactocell PA 10 in diets for piglets at a recommended dose range of 7.2 x 108–1.1 x 109 CFU/kg complete feedingstuff. P. acidilactici is considered to be suitable for the QPS approach to safety assessment, therefore no assessment of safety for the target species, the consumer and the environment was required. The safety of Bactocell PA 10 for the users has been assessed previously. The use of the product with piglets is deemed unlikely to introduce hazards for users of the product not already considered. Consequently, in the present assessment the FEEDAP Panel has focused on the efficacy of the additive Bactocell PA 10 for piglets. Three trials out of four showed significant improvements either in growth performance or in feed efficiency. Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive has the potential to be effective at a dose approximating to 1 x 109 CFU/kg complete feedingstuff.