COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGUL ATION (EU) 2017/66 
of 14 December 2016 
concer ning the author isation of tannic acid as a feed additiv e for all animal species 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Having regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regar d to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 
on additives for use in animal nutr ition (1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof, 
Whereas: 
(1)  Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the author isation of additives for use in animal nutr ition and for the 
grounds and procedures for granting such author isation. Article 10 of that Regulation provides for the re- 
evaluation of additives author ised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2). 
(2)  Tannic acid was author ised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for 
all animal species. That product was subsequently entered in the Regist er 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 tannic acid as a feed additive for all animal species. The 
applicant requeste d that additive to be classif ied in the additive categor y ‘sensor y additives ’. That application was 
accompan ied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. 
(4)  The European Food Safety Author ity (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 11 Sept ember 2014 (3) that, 
under the proposed conditions of use in feed this substance does not have adverse effects on animal health, 
human health or the environment. The Author ity further concluded that the function of tannic acid in feed is 
similar to that on food. The Author ity has already concluded that for food tannic acid is efficacious, as it 
increases the food smell or palatability . Theref ore, that conclusion can be extrapolat ed for feed. 
(5)  Restr ictions and conditions should be provided for to allow better control. Since safety reasons do not require the 
setting of a maximum content and taking into account the re-evaluation performe d by the Authority, 
a recommended content should be indicated on the label of the additive. Where such cont ent is excee ded, certain 
information should be indicated on the label of premixtures, compound feeds and feed mate rials. 
(6)  The Author ity concluded that in the absence of data on user safety tannic acid should be considered as 
poten tially hazardous to the respirato ry tract, skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Consequently , appropr iate 
prot ective measures should be take n. The Auth ority does not consider that there is a need for specifi c 
requirements of post-marke t monitori ng. It also verified the repor t on the method of analysis of the feed 
additives in feed submitt ed by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. 
(7)  The assessment of the substance concer ned shows that the conditions for author isation, as provided for in 
Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. According ly, the use of tannic acid should be 
author ised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation. 
(8) Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifi cations to the conditions of author is­
ation for tannic acid, it is appropr iate to allow a transitional period for inter ested parties to prepare themselves to 
meet the new requirements resulting from the author isation. 17.1.2017 L 13/259 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(1)OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29. 
(2)Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concer ning additives in feed ingstuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1). 
(3)EFSA Journal 2014;12(10):3828. (9)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION: 
Article 1 
Author isation 
The substance specif ied in the Annex, belonging to the additive catego ry ‘sensor y additives’ and to the functional group 
‘flavouri ng compo unds ’, is author ised as a feed additive in animal nutr ition subject to the conditions laid down in that 
Annex. 
Article 2 
Transitional measures 
1. The substance specifi ed in the Annex and premixtures containing those substances, whic h are produced and 
labelled before 6 August 2017 in accordance with the rules applicable before 6 Febr uary 2017 may continue to be 
placed on the mark et and used until the existing stoc ks are exhausted. 
2. Com pound feed and feed mater ials containing the substance as specifi ed in the Annex which are produced and 
labelled before 6 Febr uary 2018 in accordance with the rules applicable before 6 Febr uary 2017 may continue to be 
placed on the mark et and used until the existing stoc ks are exhausted if they are intende d for food-producing animals. 
3. Com pound feed and feed mater ials containing the substance as specifi ed in the Annex which are produced and 
labelled before 6 Febr uary 2019 in accordance with the rules applicable before 6 Febr uary 2017 may continue to be 
placed on the mark et and used until the existing stocks are exhaust ed if they are intende d for non-f ood-producing 
animals. 
Article 3 
Entr y into force 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member State s. 
Done at Brussels, 14 December 2016. 
For the Commission 
The Presid ent 
Jean-Claude JUNCKER  17.1.2017 L 13/260 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     ANNEX 
Identifica ­
tion 
number of 
the additive Name of 
the holder 
of author is­
ation Additive Composition, chemical formula, 
descr iption, analytical method Species or 
categor y of 
animal Maximum age Minimum 
content Maximum 
conten t 
Other provisions End of period 
of author is­
ation mg of active substance/kg of 
complet e feed ingstuff with 
a moisture content of 12 % 
Categor y: Sensor y additiv es. Functional group: Flavour ing compounds 
2b16080 — Tannic acid Additive composition 
Tannic acid 
Char acter isation of the activ e 
substance 
Tannic acid 
Produced by extraction from 
differ ent plants. 
Purity: min. 93 % on dry 
matte r basis 
Chemical formula: C76H52O46 
CAS number 72401-53-7 
FLAVIS No: 16.080 
Method of analys is(1) 
For the determination of tan­
nic acid, in the feed additive: 
Qualitative color imetr ic or 
precipitation tests (Ph. Eur. 
6th edition, monograph 
1477) and quantitative gravi ­
metr ic method (FAO JECF A 
tannic acid monograph).  All animal 
species — — — 1.The additive shall be incor por­
ated into the feed in the form of 
a premixture.  
2. In the directions for use of the 
additive and premixtures, the 
storag e and stability conditions 
shall be indicated .  
3. The recommended maximum 
conte nt of the active substance 
shall be: 15 mg/kg of compl ete 
feedingstuff with a moisture con­
tent of 12 %.  
4. On the label of the additive the 
following shall be indicated : 
‘Recommended maximum con­
tent of the active substance of 
compl ete feedingstuff with 
a moisture content of 
12 %:15 mg/kg’. 
5.The functional group, the identi ­
fication number , the name and 
the added amount of the active 
substance shall be indicate d on 
the labelling of the premixtures, 
feed mat erials and compo und 
feedingstuffs, if the following 
conte nt of the active substance 
in compl ete feedingstuff with 
a moisture content of 12 % is 
exceed ed: 15 mg/kg.  6 Febr uary 
2027 17.1.2017 L 13/261 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     For the identif ication of tan­
nic acid (as gallic acid) in the 
premixture of flavourings: 
Reversed Phase High Per­
formance Liquid Chromato ­
graphy coupled to UV detec­
tor(RP -HPL C-UV).  6. For users of the additive and 
premixtures, feed business oper ­
ators shall establish operational 
procedures and organisational 
measures to address poten tial 
risks by dermal contact or eyes 
contact. Where those risks can­
not be eliminated or reduced to 
a minimum by such procedures 
and measures, the additive and 
premixtures shall be used with 
personal prote ctive equipment, 
including safety glasses and 
gloves. 
(1)  Details of the analytical methods are available at the following address of the Reference Laboratory : https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/eurl/feed-additives/evaluation-repor ts   17.1.2017 L 13/262 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN