Safety Assessment on the Safety and Efficacy of <i>Pediococcus pentosaceus</i> DSM 32292 as a Feed Additive for All Animal Species (RP552)

An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency in March 2021 from Microferm Limited (‘the applicant’) for the new authorisation of an additive ( Pediococcus pentosaceus DSM 32292), under the category of ‘technical additive’ and functional group ‘silage additives’. The additive is proposed to be used in all animal species, with a proposed minimum content of 1 x 10 10 CFU / g to be applied to silage at a minimum of 5 x 10 7 CFU / kg. To support the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in evaluating the dossier, the Animal Feed and Feed Additives Joint Expert Group (AFFAJEG) and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) were asked to review the dossier and the supplementary information from the applicant. The FSA/FSS concluded, based on the ACAF’s advice, that the additive was correctly identified and characterised, and that the additive can be considered safe for the target species, consumer, and the environment. The additive was identified as potentially harmful by contact with skin or eyes and a respiratory sensitiser. It was concluded that the additive can be considered efficacious for moderately difficult to ensile forages. No conclusion could be reached on efficacy for difficult to ensile forages. The views of AFFAJEG and ACAF have been taken into account in the safety assessment which represents the opinion of the FSA and FSS.