Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of chromium propionate (KemTRACE™ chromium) for all growing poultry species (KEMIN EUROPA N.V)

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of chromium propionate as zootechnical feed additive for all growing poultry species. The safety and efficacy of chromium propionate has been assessed previously in 2021 by the Panel and it was concluded that the additive is considered safe for chickens for fattening and chickens reared for laying/breeding at the proposed use level 0.2–0.4 mg Cr/kg complete feed, but the conclusion was not extrapolated to other growing species. During that assessment, the EU Reference Laboratory for feed additives (EURL) was not in a position to recommend the method for official control for the quantification of the organic chromium content in premixtures and feedingstuffs. The applicant subsequently proposed a new method of analyses, incorporating a tracer in the composition of a premixture, which has been evaluated by EURL and recommended as official method for the quantification of the organic chromium content in premixtures and feedingstuffs. The safety of the use of the microtracer has been assessed in 2024. The Panel considered that the use of the microtracer as proposed in the conditions of use would not introduce safety concerns for the target animals, the consumers and terrestrial environmental compartment, but no conclusion could be made for the groundwater. The microtracer should be considered a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. In the current assessment, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive is safe for turkeys for fattening at the maximum proposed supplementation level of 0.4 mg Cr/kg feed, but a margin of safety cannot be established. This conclusion can be extended to turkeys reared for reproduction, but cannot be extrapolated to other growing poultry species. The use of the additive according to the proposed conditions of use causes no concern for consumer safety. The conclusions made previously for user safety remain the same: the additive does not present a risk by inhalation, the additive is irritant to the eyes, not irritant to the skin and is not a skin sensitiser. The use of the additive is considered safe for the environment. The previous conclusion on efficacy remains valid.