Safety and efficacy of VevoVitall(®) (benzoic acid) as feed additive for minor porcine species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on VevoVitall(®) (benzoic acid) as a feed additive for minor porcine species, when used as zootechnical additive at a maximum level of 5,000 mg/kg complete feed. The safety and efficacy of the additive had been evaluated by the FEEDAP Panel on weaned piglets (at the maximum supplementation level of 5,000 mg/kg complete feed) and pigs for fattening and pigs for reproduction (at the maximum level of 10,000 mg/kg complete feed). Subsequent to EFSA's assessments, the additive has been authorised for use in feed of weaned piglets, pigs for fattening and sows. To the knowledge of the FEEDAP Panel, there was no new information that might modify its previous assessments on VevoVitall(®) concerning safety for consumers and the environment; therefore, this opinion focused only on the safety of the target animals and the efficacy of the product. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that VevoVitall(®) is safe at the supplementation level of 5,000 mg/kg complete feed for minor porcine species for fattening and for reproduction; the FEEDAP could not conclude on the safety of the additive for weaned minor porcine species. VevoVitall(®) does not represent a risk for the consumer and the environment. VevoVitall(®) does not pose a risk by inhalation to users and is not skin sensitiser, but is a skin irritant and a severe eye irritant. VevoVitall(®) has the potential to decrease the urinary pH in minor porcine species at the dose of 5,000 mg/kg complete feed. A remark on the relevance of the claim has been posted by the Panel.