Lallemand Animal Nutrition announced that BACTOCELL® (Pediococcus acidilactici MA 18/5M), the first ever probiotic to be approved by the European Union for use in aquaculture (salmonids and shrimps), has now received another positive opinion from the EFSA’s Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) for its use in all fish Species (1). This achievement is an important milestone for the development and successful application of natural and sustainable concept to Aquaculture in Europe, as well as cementing Lallemand’s commitment to the development of safe, efficient and well-documented solutions for use in animal nutrition.
The positive opinion was accorded after scientific assessment of additional trial results demonstrating reduced deformities and improvement in mineralization in fish as well as a review of the mode of action of Bactocell in aquaculture. The panel concluded that “Taking the data on seabass and salmonids together, Bactocell has the potential to reduce bone deformation in developing fish at the dose of 1 x 109 CFU/kg of complete feedingstuffs.”
Fish bone deformation represents a major challenge for fish farmers (in particular marine fish hatcheries), with financial consequences estimated to be up to 20-25M euros per year in the Mediterranean area only.
This is the third positive scientific opinion granted by EFSA for the use of Bactocell in complete feed for aquatic species, the first two having resulted in its authorisation for use in salmonids and shrimps. Dr Henri Durand, the Scientific Director of Lallemand Animal Nutrition comments ‘Obviously the three EFSA ‘positive opinions’ are attributable to the high quality and level of scientific documentation; resulting from long-term research and development and collaborations with academic and industrial partners’.
Mathieu Castex, Lallemand’s Product Manager for Aquaculture, affirmed: “Until now, BACTOCELL was only authorised in Europe for salmonids and shrimps, while this effective and sustainable solution was then not available for use in other fish species. However with this recent development, we are very pleased to be able to bring this innovative and sustainable solution to all fish farmers to help them address a major challenge in fish farming. A complete range of fish feed containing BACTOCELL will soon be available for fish farming in Europe”.
1- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP); Scientific Opinion on the efficacy of Bactocell (Pediococcus acidilactici) when used as a feed additive for fish. EFSA Journal 2012;10(9):2886. [6 pp.] doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2886. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal
