Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Enterococcus faecium NBIMCC 8270, Lactobacillus acidophilus NBIMCC 8242, Lactobacillus helveticus NBIMCC 8269, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis NBIMCC 8250, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus NBIMCC 8244 and Streptococcus thermophilus NBIMCC 8253 (Probiotic Lactina(®)) for chickens for fattening and suckling and weaned rabbits (Lactina Ltd.)

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Probiotic Lactina(®), a feed additive consisting of Enterococcus faecium NBIMCC 8270, Lactobacillus acidophilus NBIMCC 8242, Lactobacillus helveticus NBIMCC 8269, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis NBIMCC 8250, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus NBIMCC 8244 and Streptococcus thermophilus NBIMCC 8253, for chickens for fattening and suckling and weaned rabbits. In a previous opinion, the FEEDAP Panel assessed the safety and the efficacy of the product when used in these target species and concluded that the additive is presumed safe for the target animals, consumers and the environment. Regarding the safety for the user, the Panel could not conclude on the potential of the additive to be irritant to skin and eyes or on its dermal sensitisation potential due to the lack of data. Moreover, the data provided in the previous assessment were not sufficient to conclude on the efficacy of the additive in the target species. In the current assessment, the applicant provided supplementary information to address these flaws. Based on the new studies, the Panel concluded that Probiotic Lactina(®) is irritant to skin and eyes. In the absence of data, no conclusions could be reached on its sensitisation potential. Due to the absence of appropriate data, no conclusions could be drawn on the efficacy of Probiotic Lactina(®) for chickens for fattening and suckling/weaned rabbits.