Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/540 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of acacia gum as a feed additive for all animal species

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/540 12.3.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION(EU) 2026/540 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of acacia gum 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. Article 10(2) of that Regulation provides for the re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC(2).

(2) Acacia gum was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for all animal species in the category ‘emulsifying and stabilizing agents, thickeners and gelling agents’. That substance was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1), point

(b), of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(3) In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an application was submitted for the re-evaluation of acacia gum as a feed additive for all animal species. The applicant requested the additive to be classified in the additive category ‘technological additives’ and in the functional groups ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’. The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. The applicant withdrew the application for the functional groups ‘thickeners’ and ‘gelling agents’.

(4) The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 24 June 2025(3), which revised its opinion of 17 September 2022(4), that, under the proposed conditions of use, acacia gum is safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment. The Authority also concluded that acacia gum is a potential dermal and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure by dermal or inhalation routes is considered a risk. The Authority further concluded that acacia gum is efficacious as an emulsifier and in stabilising emulsions over time, which would support its efficacy as a stabiliser. 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 acacia gum satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised. 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) Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feeding-stuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1, ELI: http:// data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1970/524/oj).

(3) EFSA Journal, 23(7), e9542, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9542.

(4) EFSA Journal2022; 20(4):7252, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7252.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/oj 1/6EN OJ L, 12.3.2026

(6) Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation of the substance concerned, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.

(7) 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 ‘technological additives’ and to the functional group ‘emulsifiers’ and ‘stabilisers’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.

Article 2 Transitional measures

1. The feed additive acacia gum, as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 1 October 2026 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted.

2. Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 1 April 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for food-producing animals.

3. Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and labelled before 1 April 2028 in accordance with the rules applicable before 1 April 2026 may continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for non-food producing animals.

Article 3 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, 11 March 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN 2/6 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/ojANNEX Minimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive description, analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg authorisation additive complete feed with 12 % moisture content

Category: technological additives. Functional group: emulsifiers 1c414 Acacia gum Additive composition Turkeys for - - 375 1. In the directions for use of 1 April 2036 fattening the additive and Acacia gum premixtures, the storage Chickens for - - 278 Solid form conditions and stability to fattening or reared

Purity: heat treatment shall be for laying or for indicated.

Loss on drying: ≤ 10 % reproduction

Total ash: ≤ 4 % Minor poultry for 2. For users of the additive and fattening or reared premixtures, feed business Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 % for laying or for operators shall establish Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 % reproduction operational procedures and organisational measures to Ornamental birds Characterisation of the active substance address potential risks resulting from their use.

Poultry for laying or - - 415 Acacia gum is a dried exudation Where those risks cannot be for reproduction obtained from the stems and branches eliminated by such of strains of Acacia senegal(L) Porcine species for - - 600 procedures and measures, Willdenow or closely related species of fattening the additive and Acacia(family Leguminosae). premixtures shall be used Piglets of porcine 500 It is constituted by high molecular with personal skin, eye and species weight polysaccharides, whose sugar breathing protective chain is made of neutral sugars Sows of porcine - - 729 equipment.

(galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) species and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/ Veal calves (milk - - 1 164 or their salts. replacer)

CAS No: 9000-01-5 Ovines - - 1 100 Caprines

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/oj 3/6 OJ L,

12.3.2026 ENMinimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive description, analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg authorisation additive complete feed with 12 % moisture content Analytical method(1) Ruminants (other - - 1 100 than ovines and For the characterisation of Acacia gum caprines) and (feed additive):

camelids for — European Pharmacopoeia fattening or reared monograph 0307 or 0308, and for milk production or for reproduction — Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012(2)and the Equids corresponding tests in the FAO Cats JECFA Compendium Ruminants (other - - 715 than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction Leporids - - 440 Food-producing 1 257 finfish Dogs - - 1 320 Ornamental fish 4 889 Other animal - - 278 species

(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) Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 83, 22.3.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/231/oj).

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ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/oj EN OJ L,

12.3.2026Minimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive description, analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg authorisation additive complete feed with 12 % moisture content

Category: technological additives. Functional group: stabilisers 1c414 Acacia gum Additive composition Turkeys for - - 375 1. In the directions for use of 1 April 2036 fattening the additive and Acacia gum premixtures, the storage Chickens for - - 278 Solid form conditions and stability to fattening or reared heat treatment shall be

Purity: for laying or for indicated. reproduction

Loss on drying: ≤ 10 % Minor poultry for 2. For users of the additive and

Total ash: ≤ 4 % fattening or reared premixtures, feed business Acid-insoluble matter: ≤ 1 % for laying or for operators shall establish reproduction operational procedures and Acid-insoluble ash: ≤ 0,5 % organisational measures to Ornamental birds address potential risks Characterisation of the active substance resulting from their use.

Poultry for laying or - - 415 Acacia gum is a dried exudation for reproduction Where those risks cannot be eliminated by such obtained from the stems and branches Porcine species for - - 600 procedures and measures, of strains of Acacia senegal(L) fattening the additive and Willdenow or closely related species of premixtures shall be used Acacia(family Leguminosae). Piglets of porcine 500 with personal skin, eye and species It is constituted by high molecular breathing protective weight polysaccharides, whose sugar Sows of porcine - - 729 equipment.

chain is made of neutral sugars species (galactose, arabinose and rhamnose) and acidic sugars (glucuronic acid) and/ Veal calves (milk - - 1 164 or their salts. replacer)

CAS No: 9000-01-5 Ovines and caprines - - 1 100

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/oj 5/6 OJ L,

12.3.2026 ENMinimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive description, analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg authorisation additive complete feed with 12 % moisture content Analytical method(1) Ruminants (other - - 1 100 than ovines and For the characterisation of Acacia gum caprines) and (feed additive):

camelids for — European Pharmacopoeia fattening or reared monograph 0307 or 0308, and for milk production or for reproduction — Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and the Equids corresponding tests in the FAO Cats JECFA Compendium Ruminants (other - - 715 than ovines and caprines) and camelids for milk production or reproduction Leporids - - 440 Food-producing 1 257 finfish Dogs - - 1 320 Ornamental fish 4 889 Other animal - - 278 species

(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.

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ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/540/oj EN OJ L,

12.3.2026