Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 13(3) thereof,

Whereas:

The preparation benzoic acid, belonging to the additive category of ‘zootechnical additives’, was authorised for 10 years as a feed additive for use in weaned piglets by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1730/2006^f2 and for use in pigs for fattening by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1138/2007^f3.

In accordance with Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, the holder of the authorisation has proposed changing the terms of the authorisation of the preparation benzoic acid as feed additive for weaned piglets to delete the condition regarding inclusion of that preparation in compound feed via premixture and to modify the conditions regarding complementary feedingstuffs. The application was accompanied by the relevant supporting data. The Commission forwarded that application to the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’).

The Authority concluded in its opinion of 6 September 2011^f4 that there is no reason to continue to restrict the inclusion of the preparation benzoic acid to compound feed via premixtures. It considered the restrictions on the use of the additive in complementary feed established by Regulation (EC) No 1138/2007 as being sufficient and applicable to weaned piglets.

The conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 are satisfied.

Regulation (EC) No 1730/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: