Assessment of the feed additive consisting of taurine (3a370) for Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae and carnivorous fish for the renewal of its authorisation and the request for a new use in all poultry and all porcine species (Regal B. V.)

TL;DR

This paper assesses the safety and efficacy of taurine as a feed additive for various animals, including new uses in poultry and pigs.

Contribution

The paper provides a new safety evaluation for taurine's expanded use in poultry and porcine species.

Findings

Taurine is safe for Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, and carnivorous fish under current conditions.

Taurine up to 0.2% is tolerated in poultry and porcine species but lacks a margin of safety.

Taurine is a skin and eye irritant and a sensitiser, posing health risks.

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of taurine as a nutritional feed additive (functional group: vitamins, pro‐vitamins and chemically well‐defined substances having similar effect) for the renewal of its authorisation for use in Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae and carnivorous fish and for the new use in the same category (functional group: amino acids, their salts and analogues), in all poultry and all porcine species. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that taurine remains safe under the current conditions of authorisation for Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae and carnivorous fish, consumer and environment. The Panel also concludes that levels up to 0.2%, with no margin of safety, are tolerated in all poultry and all porcine species, for which the new use of taurine as an amino acid is requested. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that the additive is a skin and eye irritant, and a skin and respiratory sensitiser and that any exposure is considered a risk. There is no need for the assessment of the efficacy of the additive in Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae and carnivorous fish in the context of the renewal of the authorisation. The Panel concludes that taurine cannot be considered a nutritional additive for all poultry and porcine species.