Date: 2025-09-26Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1915 of 25 September 2025 concerning the authorisation of L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 as a feed additive for all animal species
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
**Executive Summary**
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1915, dated 25 September 2025, authorizes L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 as a feed additive for all animal species. The additive is classified as a 'nutritional additive' within the functional group 'amino acids, their salts and analogues'. The regulation enters into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, with the authorization period ending on 16 October 2035.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Authorisation:** L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 is authorized as a feed additive for all animal species.
* **Category and Functional Group:** Classified as a 'nutritional additive' and belongs to the functional group 'amino acids, their salts and analogues'.
* **Specifications:**
* L-tryptophan content should be ≥ 98% on a dry matter basis.
* Maximum content of 1,1'-ethylidene-bis-L-tryptophan (EBT) should be 10 mg/kg.
* **Usage Instructions:**
* Storage conditions and stability to heat treatment and water must be indicated in the directions for use.
* Can be used via water for drinking.
* Feed business operators must ensure L-tryptophan is rumen protected when fed to ruminants.
* Moisture content must be indicated on the label.
* Supplementation with L-tryptophan should take into account all essential and conditionally essential amino acids to avoid imbalances.
**Impact Analysis**
**Feed Business Operators**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for including correct information in the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, ensuring that ruminants are fed rumen-protected L-tryptophan, and indicating the moisture content on the label.
* **Action Required:** Update product labels, adjust feed formulations, and modify usage instructions to comply with the regulation.
**Animal Feed Producers**
* **Impact:** They are now permitted to include the specified L-tryptophan additive in their feed products.
* **Action Required:** Implement the use of L-tryptophan additive in accordance with the specifications and usage instructions outlined in the Regulation.
**Ruminant Livestock Keepers**
* **Impact:** Need to source L-tryptophan supplement that is rumen protected. They need to also be mindful of the total amino acid balance in the animal's diet.
* **Action Required:** Verify that L-tryptophan used in feed is rumen-protected. Balance diets appropriately when supplementing with L-tryptophan.
**Users of Additive**
* **Impact**: They should take appropriate protective measures to prevent adverse effects on their health.
* **Action Required**: Follow safety guidelines and handling instructions when using the additive.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on additives for use in animal nutrition.
L-tryptophan: An amino acid used as a feed additive, specifically L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): The Authority that evaluated the safety and efficacy of L-tryptophan as a feed additive.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1915: The regulation authorising L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 as a feed additive for all animal species.
Reference Laboratory: The lab that submitted a report on the method of analysis of L-tryptophan in feed.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1915 26.9.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION(EU) 2025/1915
of 25 September 2025
concerning the authorisation of L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicumKCCM
80346 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
L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346. 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 L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicumKCCM 80346
as a feed additive for use in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species, requesting that additive to be
classified in the category ‘nutritional additives’ and in the functional group ‘amino acids, their salts and analogues’.
(4) The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 7 March 2024(2)that, under the
proposed conditions of use, L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 does not pose
any safety concerns regarding the production strain and is safe for non-ruminant target species. However, it
concluded that there may be a risk for an increased production of the toxic metabolite skatole when unprotected
tryptophan is used in ruminants. The Authority referred to concerns on the safety for the target species resulting
from the simultaneous oral administration of L-tryptophan via water for drinking and feed due to possible amino
acid imbalances and for hygienic reasons in case of use in water. It also concluded that the use of L-tryptophan
produced with Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80346 in animal nutrition is considered safe for the consumers
and for the environment and that regarding user safety it is neither irritating to the eyes and skin, nor a skin
sensitiser. The Authority further concluded that the substance is regarded as an efficacious source of the essential
amino acid L-tryptophan for all non-ruminant species and that for the substance to be fully efficacious in ruminants,
it should be protected from ruminal degradation. The Authority did not consider that there is a need for specific
requirements of post-market monitoring. 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 L-tryptophan produced with Corynebacterium glutamicumKCCM
80346 satisfies the conditions, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of
that substance should be authorised. When fed to ruminants, it is appropriate to provide for protective measures
against its degradation in the rumen. It is appropriate to alert the users to take into account the dietary supply with
all the essential and conditionally essential amino acids, in particular in the case of supplementation with
L-tryptophan via water for drinking. 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.
(1) OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj.
(2) EFSA Journal, 23(4), e9327. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9327.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1915/oj 1/4EN
OJ L, 26.9.2025
(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 substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘nutritional additives’ and to the functional group
‘amino acids, their salts and analogues’, 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, 25 September 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1915/ojANNEX
Identifica Minimum Maximum
tion Species or content content End of period
Composition, chemical formula, Maximum
number of Additive category Other provisions of
description, analytical method age
the feed of animal mg/kg of complete feed with 12 authorisation
additive % moisture content
Category: nutritional additives. Functional group: amino acids, their salts and analogues
3c443 L-tryptophan Additive composition All - - - 1. In the directions for use of 16 October
L-tryptophan ≥ 98 % (on a dry matter animal the additive and premixtures, 2035
basis) species the storage conditions, the
stability to heat treatment
Solid form and in water shall be
indicated.
Maximum content of 10 mg/kg 1,1′-
2. The additive may be used via
ethylidene-bis-L-tryptophan (EBT)
water for drinking.
Characterisation of the active substance 3. Feed business operators shall
L-tryptophan produced with ensure that L-tryptophan is
Corynebacterium glutamicumKCCM rumen protected, when fed
80346 to ruminants.
4. The moisture content shall
IUPAC name: (2S)-2-amino-
be indicated on the label of
3-(1H-indol-3-yl) propanoic acid
the additive.
Chemical formula: C H N O 5. The labelling of the additive
11 12 2 2
and premixtures shall
CAS number: 73-22-3 indicate the following: ‘The
supplementation with
L-tryptophan, in particular
Analytical method(1)
via water for drinking, shall
take into account all essential
For the identification of L-tryptophan
and conditionally essential
in the feed additive:
amino acids in order to avoid
imbalances.’
— Food Chemical Codex
‘L-tryptophan’ monograph
For the determination of tryptophan
in the feed additive and premixtures:
— High performance liquid
chromatography with
fluorescence detection (HPLC-
FLD) - EN ISO 13904
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1915/oj
3/4
OJ
L,
26.9.2025
ENIdentifica Minimum Maximum
tion Species or content content End of period
Composition, chemical formula, Maximum
number of Additive category Other provisions of
description, analytical method age
the feed of animal mg/kg of complete feed with 12 authorisation
additive % moisture content
For the determination of tryptophan
in compound feed:
— High performance liquid
chromatography with
fluorescence detection (HPLC-
FLD), Commission Regulation
(EC) No 152/2009
For the determination of tryptophan
in water:
— High performance liquid
chromatography with
fluorescence detection
(HPLC-FLD)
(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.
4/4
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1915/oj
EN
OJ
L,
26.9.2025