Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of l‐arginine produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80387 for all animal species (CJ Europe GmbH)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of l-arginine produced with <i>Corynebacterium glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 as a nutritional feed additive for all animal species (category: nutritional additive; functional group: amino acids, their salts and analogues; and category: sensory additives; functional group: flavouring compounds). The production strain <i>C. glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 is a genetically modified strain and raises no safety concerns. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive does not pose any safety concern with regard to the production strain. The use of l-arginine produced by fermentation with <i>C. glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 in feed as nutritional additive or as flavouring compound is safe for the target species. The FEEDAP Panel has concerns on the use of l-arginine in water for drinking. The use of l-arginine produced by fermentation with <i>C. glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 in animal nutrition is considered safe for the consumers and for the environment. As regards the safety for the user, l-arginine produced with <i>C. glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 is not irritant to skin, and not a dermal sensitiser but is irritant to the eyes and respiratory tract. The additive l-arginine produced by fermentation with <i>C. glutamicum</i> KCCM 80387 is regarded as an efficacious source of the essential amino acid l-arginine for non-ruminant nutrition. For the supplemental l-arginine to be as efficacious in ruminants as in non-ruminant species, it requires protection against degradation in the rumen. l-Arginine is also considered efficacious when used as a flavouring compound in animal nutrition.