Safety and efficacy of Bonvital® (Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134) as a feed additive for laying hens.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Bonvital® for laying hens. Bonvital® is an additive containing viable cells of Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 marketed in two forms, a granular and a powder form, both with a guaranteed minimum concentration of E. faecium DSM 7134 of 1.0 9 1010 colony forming units (CFU)/g additive. Bonvital® in either form is intended for use in feed for laying hens at the minimum concentration of 1.0 9 109 CFU/kg complete feed and at the maximum concentration of 1.0 9 1010 CFU/kg feedingstuffs. Bonvital powder® is also proposed for use in water for drinking at the minimum concentration of 5.0 9 108 CFU/L. The use of Bonvital® in animal nutrition is considered safe for the target animals. The results of a tolerance trial in which hens were fed the additive at 10-fold the maximum recommended dose support this conclusion. Delivery of comparable doses of the additive via water for drinking is considered as safe for laying hens. Bonvital® at the proposed conditions of use is safe for consumers of products derived from animals fed the additive and for the environment. Bonvital® is not a dermal or ocular irritant but a potential dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Bonvital® has the potential to be efficacious in improving the hen's performance when supplemented at 1.0 9 109 CFU/kg feed or 5.0 9 108 CFU/L water for drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]