Safety and efficacy of feed additives consisting of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide for all animal species (Eusalt a.i.s.b.l.)

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of potassium and sodium ferrocyanide as technological feed additives for all animal species. The additives sodium‐ and potassium ferrocyanide are intended to be used in sodium chloride with a maximum content of 80 mg ferrocyanide anion (anhydrous)/kg salt. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the use of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide is safe, when added to sodium chloride at a maximum content of 80 mg ferrocyanide anion/kg for: turkey for fattening and laying hens and other laying/breeding birds; all porcine species and categories, all ruminant species and categories, rabbit, horse, salmonids and other minor fin fish, dogs and cats. In the absence of a margin of safety, the use of sodium and potassium chloride according to the proposed conditions of use is not considered to be safe for chickens for fattening and other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding other than turkeys. In the absence of information on the use of sodium chloride in the diets for any other animal species, no conclusion on a potentially safe level of sodium chloride, supplemented with 80 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg, could be made. The use of sodium and potassium ferrocyanide in animal nutrition under the conditions of use proposed is of no concern for consumer safety. The results of in vivo studies showed that sodium and potassium ferrocyanide are not irritant to skin and eye and are not skin sensitisers. However, owing to the presence of nickel, sodium ferrocyanide, is considered a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. No conclusions could be reached on the safety of the user exposed via inhalation for potassium ferrocyanide. The use of sodium and potassium ferrocyanide as feed additives is considered safe for the environment. The additives are considered to be efficacious as anticaking agents in sodium chloride at the proposed use level.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide for all animal species (Eusalt a.i.s.b.l.)

“…The additives, which are composed only of the active substances (sodium ferrocyanide or potassium ferrocyanide) were re-evaluated by EFSA FEEDAP Panel (2023). In that opinion, the additives were fully characterised and the Panel concluded that the use of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide is safe, when added to sodium chloride at a maximum content of 80 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg for turkeys for fattening and laying hens and other laying/breeding birds, all porcine species and categories, all ruminant species and categories, rabbits, horses, salmonids and other minor fin fish, dogs and cats.…”

“…In its previous opinion (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2023), the Panel assessed the safety for the consumer estimating the exposure to residues of the additives via milk, the only food of animal origin in which, based on the metabolism of the additives, residues are expected. The Panel concluded that the supplementation of sodium chloride with sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide at a maximum concentration of 80 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg does not raise concern for the consumer.…”

“…In its previous opinion (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2023), the FEEDAP Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 4.4 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day (corresponding to 3 mg ferrocyanide ion/kg bw per day) in a chronic (2‐year) toxicity study in rats. The NOAEL for ferrocyanide anion was used to calculate the maximum safe level for the different target species, as described in the Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the target species (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017).…”

“…In the context of the re‐evaluation of the additive, EFSA issued an opinion on the safety and efficacy of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide as feed additives (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2023).…”