Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed on the safety and efficacy of the enzyme preparation Belfeed B1100MP and Belfeed B1100ML (endo-1,4-beta xylanase) as feed additive for ducks

Belfeed B1100MP/B1100ML is an enzyme preparation of endo-1,4-beta xylanase produced by Bacillus subtilis intended to be used in arabinoxylan-rich feedingstuffs for ducks during their full life cycle. This product is permanently authorised for use in chickens for fattening and piglets, and has been provisionally authorised for its use in pigs for fattening and turkeys for fattening. The applicant is now asking for authorisation to use the additive in ducks. According to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should deliver an opinion on the efficacy and the safety of the product Belfeed B1100MP/B1100ML for the target animal, consumers, users and the environment. Data from two trials in ducks for fattening provided by the applicant did not provide conclusive results on the efficacy of the product. However, the evidence that this enzymatic preparation has the same mode of action in ducks as in the physiologically similar major species (chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening) suggests that the product would also be efficacious in this minor species. A tolerance test carried out with ducks for fattening with 10X the maximum recommended dose of Belfeed B1100MP produced no evidence of adverse effects on performance or mortality. The FEEDAP Panel therefore considers that Belfeed B1100MP/ B1100ML is safe for ducks for fattening. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the safety for the consumer, user and the environment have been properly addressed in previous assessments and there are no reasons that may raise safety concerns.