Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/281 of 12 February 2025 concerning the authorisation of propyl gallate as a feed additive for all animal species
Date: 2025-02-12
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: animal feedingstuffs, food additive, market approval




L_202500281EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/281


13.2.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/281
of 12 February 2025
         
concerning the authorisation of propyl gallate as a feed additive for all animal species
(Text with EEA relevance)


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 (1), 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 an authorisation. Article 10(2) of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC (2).












(2)


Propyl gallate was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for all animal species. That substance was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1)(b) 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 propyl gallate as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant requested the additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’ and in the functional group ‘antioxidants’. The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.












(4)


The applicant requested the additive to be authorised for use also in water for drinking. However, Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 does not allow the authorisation of technological additives for use in water for drinking. Therefore, the use of the additive in water for drinking should not be allowed.












(5)


The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinions of 17 March 2020 (3) and 31 January 2024 (4) (as readopted on 26 June 2024) that propyl gallate is safe for all animal species and for consumers at certain maximum concentrations further specified in the opinions and for the environment. The Authority also concluded that propyl gallate is irritant to skin and eyes, it is a dermal sensitiser and that exposure via inhalation is possible and it is considered a hazard. The Authority further concluded that the additive has the potential to act as an antioxidant in feedingstuffs for all animal species. The Authority 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.












(6)


In view of the above, the Commission considers that propyl gallate satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects on the health of the users of the additive.












(7)


Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the substance concerned, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.












(8)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1

Authorisation

The substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘technological additives’ and to the functional group ‘antioxidants’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.


Article 2

Transitional measures


1.   The feed additive propyl gallate, as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 5 September 2025 in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted.


2.   Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 5 March 2026 in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for food-producing animals.


3.   Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 5 March 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for non-food producing animals.



Article 3

Entry 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 States.
Done at Brussels, 12 February 2025.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj.

(2)  Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1970/524/oj).

(3)  
            EFSA Journal 2020;18(4):6069.

(4)  
            EFSA Journal. 2024;22:e8638.




ANNEX













Identification number of the feed additive


Additive


Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical method


Species or category of animal


Maximum age


Minimum content


Maximum content


Other provisions


End of period of authorisation




mg active substance/kg complete feedingstuff with 12 % moisture content





Category: technological additives. Functional group: antioxidants





1b310


Propyl gallate



Additive composition

Propyl gallate ≥ 97 %
Solid form
Sulphated ash < 0,1 %
Gallic acid < 0,5 %
Chlorinated organic compounds < 100 mg/kg

Characterisation of the active substance

Propyl gallate
Produced by esterification of gallic acid from gallnuts
Chemical formula: C10H1205

CAS No: 121-79-9

Analytical method
 (1)

For the quantification of propyl gallate in the feed additive:






—


Spectrophotometry at 275 nm (European Pharmacopoeia monograph 1039)




For the quantification of propyl gallate in premixtures and compound feed:






—


Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to UltraViolet-Diode-Array Detection (RP-HPLC-UV(DAD), 285 nm)






Bovines
Sheep
Goats
Cervids
Camelids
Sows of all Suidae species
Equines
Salmonids and minor fin fish


-


-


40








1.


In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.










2.


For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal skin, eye and breathing protective equipment.






 




Ornamental fish


100 




Chickens for fattening
Minor poultry for fattening and reared for laying or reared for reproduction
Ornamental birds


15 




Turkeys for fattening
Laying hens
Minor poultry species for laying or for reproduction
Leporids


 


 


20 


 


 




Piglets of all Suidae species
All Suidae species for fattening and reared for reproduction


27 




Dogs
Cats


71 




 


 


 


All other animal species


 


 


15 


 


 






(1)  Details of the analytical methods are available at the following address of the Reference Laboratory: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/eurl-fa-eurl-feed-additives/eurl-fa-authorisation/eurl-fa-evaluation-reports_en.



ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/281/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)