Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2502 of 11 December 2025 concerning the authorisation of a preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 as a feed additive for pigs for fattening of all Suidae species and weaned piglets of minor Suidae species (holder of authorisation: Genencor International B.V.)
Date: 2025-12-11
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: animal feedingstuffs, fattening, food additive, market approval, swine








L_202502502EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/2502


12.12.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/2502
of 11 December 2025
         
concerning the authorisation of a preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 as a feed additive for pigs for fattening of all Suidae species and weaned piglets of minor Suidae species (holder of authorisation: Genencor International B.V.)
(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.












(2)


In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of a preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.












(3)


The application concerns the authorisation of the preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 as a feed additive for pigs for fattening and other growing Suidae, requesting that additive to be classified in the category ‘zootechnical additives’ and in the functional group ‘digestibility enhancers’.












(4)


The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 29 January 2025 (2) that the preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. The Authority also concluded that the preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 is not irritant to eyes or skin but should be considered a skin and respiratory sensitiser and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The Authority further concluded that the preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 has the potential to be efficacious in pigs for fattening and other minor porcine species at the same physiological stage at 5 000 U protease/kg and 1,5 × 108 CFU/kg of complete feed. It did not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. The Authority also verified the report on the methods of analysis of the feed additives in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.












(5)


Following a request from the Commission, the Authority, in its reply dated May 5, 2025, confirmed that in this specific case the phrase ‘other minor porcine species at the same physiological stage’ includes weaned piglets of minor porcine species or pigs for fattening of minor porcine species.












(6)


On 27 June 2025, the applicant withdrew the application for use in suckling piglets of minor Suidae species.












(7)


In view of the above, the Commission considers that the preparation of protease produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 and viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that preparation should be authorised for pigs for fattening of all Suidae species and weaned piglets of minor Suidae species. 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.












(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 preparation specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘zootechnical additives’ and to the functional group ‘digestibility enhancers’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.


Article 2

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, 11 December 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)  
            EFSA Journal. 2025;23:e9265, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9265.




ANNEX














Identification number of the feed additive


Name of the holder of authorisation


Name of the 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




Units of activity and CFU/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12 %





Category: zootechnical additives. Functional group: digestibility enhancers.





4a63


Genencor
International B.V.


Protease (EC 3.4.21.62), Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510



Additive composition

Preparation of:






—


protease (EC 3.4.21.62) produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232 with a minimum activity of: 50 000 U (1)/g










—



Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510 containing a minimum total of:





Bacillus spp. 1,5 × 109 CFU/g (ratio 1:1:1)






—


Food- grade mineral oil: ≤ 0,4 %










—


Food- grade polyvinyl alcohol: ≤ 3,5 %




Solid form.

Characterisation of the active substance

Protease (EC 3.4.21.62) produced with Bacillus subtilis CBS 148232, and
viable spores of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510

Analytical method
 (2)

For the quantification of protease in the feed additive, premixtures and compound feed:
Colorimetric method based on the enzymatic hydrolysis by protease of a dyed cross-linked casein substrate at pH 10,0 and 50 °C.
For the identification of Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50508, Bacillus velezensis NRRL B-50509 and Bacillus subtilis NRRL B-50510:
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) - CEN/TS 17697 or DNA sequencing methods.
For the enumeration of the overall Bacillus spp. (NRRL B-50508, NRRL B-50509 and NRRL B-50510) in the feed additive, premixture and compound feed: Spread plate method on tryptone soya agar (EN 15784).


Pigs for fattening of all Suidae species
Weaned piglets of minor Suidae species


—


5 000  U Protease And 1,5 × 108 CFU Bacillus spp.


—








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 the 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 and breathing protective equipment.






1 January 2036






(1)  1 unit of protease activity is defined as the amount of enzyme that liberates, under defined assay conditions, 2,3 μg of phenolic compounds (expressed as tyrosine equivalents) from a casein substrate per minute at pH 10,0 and 50 °C.

(2)  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/2025/2502/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)