Safety and efficacy of CI‐FER™ (ferric citrate chelate) as a zootechnical feed additive for suckling and weaned piglets and minor porcine species

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of CI‐FER™ (ferric citrate chelate) as zootechnical feed additive for suckling and weane...

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Main Authors: EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Vasileios Bampidis, Giovanna Azimonti, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Henrik Christensen, Birgit Dusemund, Maryline Kouba, Mojca Kos Durjava, Marta López‐Alonso, Secundino López Puente, Francesca Marcon, Baltasar Mayo, Alena Pechová, Mariana Petkova, Fernando Ramos, Yolanda Sanz, Roberto Edoardo Villa, Ruud Woutersen, Guido Rychen, Montserrat Anguita, Jaume Galobart, Orsolya Holczknecht, Gloria López‐Gálvez, Elisa Pettenati, Jordi Tarrés‐Call, Fabiola Pizzo, Paola Manini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-11-01
Series:EFSA Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5916
Description
Summary:Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of CI‐FER™ (ferric citrate chelate) as zootechnical feed additive for suckling and weaned piglets and minor porcine species. The additive is safe for weaned piglets at the recommended level of 500 mg/kg complete feed. This conclusion can be extended to sucking piglets for the period in which solid feed is given and extrapolated to all minor porcine species. No concerns for consumer safety are expected from the use of the additive in piglets and minor porcine species. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the compound under assessment poses a risk to users by inhalation. The product should also be considered as an irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the presence of nickel, CI‐FER™ should also be considered as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The supplementation of feed with the additive is not expected to pose an environmental risk. CI‐FER™ used at the minimum recommended level of 500 mg/kg feed has the potential to improve zootechnical parameters of weaned piglets. This conclusion can be extended to sucking piglets for the period in which solid feed is given and extrapolated to all minor porcine species.
ISSN:1831-4732