Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/540 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of acacia gum as a feed additive for all animal species
Date: 2026-03-11
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: animal feedingstuffs, food emulsifier, market approval




L_202600540EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/540


12.3.2026







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/540
of 11 March 2026
         
concerning the authorisation of acacia gum 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)


Acacia gum was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for all animal species in the category ‘emulsifying and stabilizing agents, thickeners and gelling agents’. That substance was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1), point (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 acacia gum 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 groups ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’. The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. The applicant withdrew the application for the functional groups ‘thickeners’ and ‘gelling agents’.












(4)


The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 24 June 2025 (3), which revised its opinion of 17 September 2022 (4), that, under the proposed conditions of use, acacia gum is safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment. The Authority also concluded that acacia gum is a potential dermal and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure by dermal or inhalation routes is considered a risk. The Authority further concluded that acacia gum is efficacious as an emulsifier and in stabilising emulsions over time, which would support its efficacy as a stabiliser. 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.












(5)


In view of the above, the Commission considers that acacia gum 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.












(6)


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.












(7)


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 ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’, 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 acacia gum, as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 1 October 2026 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 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 1 April 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 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 1 April 2028 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 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, 11 March 2026.


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 feeding-stuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1970/524/oj).

(3)  
            EFSA Journal, 23(7), e9542, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9542.

(4)  
            EFSA Journal 2022; 20(4):7252, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7252.




ANNEX













Identification number of the additive


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




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





Category: technological additives. Functional group: emulsifiers





1c414


Acacia gum



Additive composition

Acacia gum
Solid form
Purity:
Loss on drying: ≤ 10 %
Total ash: ≤ 4 %
Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 %
Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 %

Characterisation of the active substance

Acacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of strains of Acacia senegal (L) Willdenow or closely related species of Acacia (family Leguminosae).
It is constituted by high molecular weight polysaccharides, whose sugar chain is made of neutral sugars (galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/or their salts.
CAS No: 9000-01-5

Analytical method
 (1)

For the characterisation of Acacia gum (feed additive):






—


European Pharmacopoeia monograph 0307 or 0308, and










—


Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 (2) and the corresponding tests in the FAO JECFA Compendium






Turkeys for fattening


-


-


375 








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.






1 April 2036




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


-


-


278 




Poultry for laying or for reproduction


-


-


415 




Porcine species for fattening


-


-


600 




Piglets of porcine species


 


 


500 




Sows of porcine species


-


-


729 




Veal calves (milk replacer)


-


-


1 164 




Ovines
Caprines


-


-


1 100 




Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for fattening or reared for milk production or for reproduction
Equids
Cats


-


-


1 100 




Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction


-


-


715 




Leporids


-


-


440 




Food-producing finfish


 


 


1 257 




Dogs


-


-


1 320 




Ornamental fish


 


 


4 889 




Other animal species


-


-


278 




















Identification number of the additive


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




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





Category: technological additives. Functional group: stabilisers





1c414


Acacia gum



Additive composition

Acacia gum
Solid form
Purity:
Loss on drying: ≤ 10 %
Total ash: ≤ 4 %
Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 %
Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 %

Characterisation of the active substance

Acacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of strains of Acacia senegal (L) Willdenow or closely related species of Acacia (family Leguminosae).
It is constituted by high molecular weight polysaccharides, whose sugar chain is made of neutral sugars (galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/or their salts.
CAS No: 9000-01-5

Analytical method
 (3)

For the characterisation of Acacia gum (feed additive):






—


European Pharmacopoeia monograph 0307 or 0308, and










—


Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and the corresponding tests in the FAO JECFA Compendium






Turkeys for fattening


-


-


375 








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.






1 April 2036




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


-


-


278 




Poultry for laying or for reproduction


-


-


415 




Porcine species for fattening


-


-


600 




Piglets of porcine species


 


 


500 




Sows of porcine species


-


-


729 




Veal calves (milk replacer)


-


-


1 164 




Ovines and caprines


-


-


1 100 




Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for fattening or reared for milk production or for reproduction
Equids
Cats


-


-


1 100 




Ruminants (other than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction


-


-


715 




Leporids


-


-


440 




Food-producing finfish


 


 


1 257 




Dogs


-


-


1 320 




Ornamental fish


 


 


4 889 




Other animal species


-


-


278 






(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.

(2)  Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 83, 22.3.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/231/oj).

(3)  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/2026/540/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)