EFSA opinion on Lactobacillus product for broilers

Probiomix B is a preparation of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus which has never been authorised in the European Union. The applicant has requested an authorisation for use with chickens for fattening under the category of zootechnical additives (functional group: gut flora stabilisers).

Dosage for use: starter, grower, & finisher feed

The additive is intended to be used at the minimum recommended dose of 5 x 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/kg feed in the starter feed, of 1.5 x 108 CFU/kg feed in the grower feed and of 1 x 108 CFU/kg feed in the finisher feed, and at the maximum recommended dose of 1 x 109 CFU/kg feed in the starter feed, of 3 x 108 CFU/kg feed in the grower feed and of 2 x 108 CFU/kg feed in the finisher feed. Probiomix B is also intended for use in water for drinking at the recommended dose of 1 x 108 CFU/L water.

The identity of 2 strains has been established and no resistance to clinically relevant antibiotic detected. The strains satisfy the requirements for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment and thus are presumed safe for the target animals, consumers of products derived from animals fed the additive and the environment.

Feed additive effect on skin & eyes

In the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the irritancy of the additive to skin and eyes or its dermal sensitisation. The additive apparently does not contain particles of inhalable size and the dusting potential measured is negligible. Therefore, exposure is unlikely and under practical conditions respiratory sensitisation of Probiomix B can be reasonably excluded.

The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of Probiomix B for chickens for fattening.

[Source: EFSA]