The Safety And Efficacy of MycoCell

EU - Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of the product MycoCell as feed additive for dairy cows.

6 November 2009

1 minute read

The microbial additive MycoCell is a live preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture. It is intended to be applied daily as a top dressing, or incorporated into a total ixed ration (1 x 10¹⁰ CFU/head/day).

The active agent, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is considered by EFSA to have QPS status and, as such, can be presumed as safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. The additional experimental data provided in support of safety for dairy cows and the genotoxicity data do not conflict with the conclusions reached on safety using the QPS approach.

The additive has been unexpectedly shown to be a skin sensitiser. If this proves to be the case, in the absence of information on dusting potential, the product should also be treated as a respiratory sensitiser. In addition, it should be noted that the product is intended for top-dressing at farm level.

There is insufficient evidence that MycoCell at 1 x 10¹⁰ CFU/head/day produces beneficial effects in dairy cows.

The in vitro studies provided do not support the proposal for the functional group ‘other zootechnical additives’ (reduction of mycotoxin concentration in the gastrointestinal tract).

In addition the FEEDAP Panel recommended a number of modifications to the description and conditions of use of the additive proposed by the applicant.