THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition, and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation. Article 10 of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC.
(2)
Potassium diformate, CAS number 20642-05-1, was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for use on all animal species by Commission Regulation (EC) No 492/2006. That additive was subsequently entered in the Community Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(3)
In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of potassium diformate as a feed additive for all animal species, requesting that additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(4)
The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 13 December 2011 that, under the proposed conditions of use, potassium diformate does not have an adverse effect on animal health, consumer health or the environment, and that it is effective in increasing the storage time of raw fish and fish by-products. It concluded that no safety concerns would arise for users provided that appropriate protective measures are taken. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(5)
The assessment of potassium diformate shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.
(6)
As a consequence of a new authorisation being granted by this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 492/2006 and Annex III thereto should be deleted.
(7)
Since the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the feed additive are not related to safety reasons, it is appropriate to allow a transitional period for the disposal of existing stocks of pre-mixtures and compound feed containing this preparation, as authorised by Regulation (EC) No 492/2006.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: