Opinion of the Scientific Panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed (FEEDAP) on the safety of the enzyme preparation Econase Wheat Plus for use as feed additive for chickens for fattening

The product Econase Wheat Plus is a preparation of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 529.94), and endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 526.94) intended for use in wheat based poultry diets. The safety evaluation (consumer, user and environment) of Econase Wheat has been done previously by the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (SCAN) (16 October 2002). In a further safety assessment of Econase Wheat Plus, limited to the target animals (chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening), SCAN concluded that, due to the inadequate experimental design, another tolerance test in chickens for fattening was necessary in order to assess the safety of the product. The European Food Safety Authority received a request to assess the safety for chickens for fattening. A new tolerance test was provided by the petitioner. This test carried out with 3360 chickens for fattening over a 35-day period, at the recommended highest dose of xylanase (analysed in-feed value) and at an intended 10 times the recommended highest dose of glucanase (analysed in-feed value), demonstrated no adverse effects on performance, mortality rate and carcass characteristics. Incidence of dyschondroplasia like tibial aberrations was not affected. Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel is of the opinion that the safety of Econase Wheat Plus for chickens for fattening has been demonstrated.