COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/1020

| Official Journal of the European Union | EN L series ---|---|--- * * * | 2026/1020 | 8.5.2026 ---|---|--- COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/1020 of 7 May 2026 concerning the authorisation of a preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 as a feed additive for all animal species (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition (1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) | Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such an authorisation. ---|--- (2) | In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of a preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. ---|--- (3) | The application concerns the authorisation of a preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 as a feed additive for all animal species, requesting that additive to be classified in the category ‘technological additives’ and in the functional group ‘silage additives’. ---|--- (4) | The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) in its opinion of 31 August 2025 (2) concluded that the preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 is safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment. Regarding user safety, the Authority concluded that the preparation should be considered a skin and respiratory sensitiser, but it could not conclude on the eye irritancy potential of the preparation. Furthermore, the Authority concluded that the addition of the preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 at a minimum level of 1 × 109 CFU/kg fresh plant material has the potential to improve the production and fermentation quality of silage made from moderately difficult to ensile fresh plant material. However, it could not conclude on the efficacy of the preparation on easy to ensile and difficult to ensile plant materials. The Authority also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. ---|--- (5) | In view of the above, the Commission considers that the preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that preparation should be authorised for all animal species. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects on the health of the users of the additive. ---|--- (6) | The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, ---|--- HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Authorisation The preparation specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘technological additives’ and to the functional group ‘silage additives’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex. Article 2 Entry into force This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 7 May 2026. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN * * * (1) OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj. (2) EFSA Journal 2025, 23(9), e9634. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9634. * * * ANNEX Identification number of the additive | Name of the additive | Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical method | Species or category of animal | Maximum age | Minimum content | Maximum content | Other provisions | End of period of authorisation ---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- CFU/kg of fresh material Category: technological additives. Functional group: silage additives 1k21018 | Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 | Additive composition Preparation of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357, containing a minimum of 1 × 1011 CFU/g additive Solid form \--------------------------------- Characterisation of the active substance Viable cells of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 \--------------------------------- Analytical method (1) Identification of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357: | — | Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) (CEN/TS 17697) or DNA sequencing methods ---|--- Enumeration of Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674/DSM 35357 in the feed additive: — | Spread (or pour) plate method on MRS agar (EN 15786) ---|--- All animal species | - | - | - | | 1. | In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions shall be indicated. ---|--- 2. | Minimum dose of the additive when it is not used in combination with other micro-organisms and/or enzymes as silage additives: 1 × 109 CFU/kg fresh plant material. ---|--- 3. | The additive shall only be used with moderately difficult to ensile fresh plant material (2). ---|--- 4. | For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal skin, eye and breathing protective equipment. ---|--- 28 May 2036 (1) Details of the analytical methods are available at the following address of the Reference Laboratory: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/eurl- fa-eurl-feed-additives/eurl-fa-authorisation/eurl-fa-evaluation-reports_en. (2) Moderately difficult to ensile forage: 1,5-3,0 % soluble carbohydrates in the fresh material in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 429/2008 of 25 April 2008 on detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the preparation and the presentation of applications and the assessment and the authorisation of feed additives (OJ L 133, 22.5.2008, p. 1, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/429/oj). * * * ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1020/oj ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition) * * *