SCIENTIFIC OPINION
ADOPTED: 18 March 2020
doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6076
Safety of ammonium formate (E 295) for all animal species
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP),
Vasileios Bampidis, Giovanna Azimonti, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Henrik Christensen,
pez-Alonso,
Birgit Dusemund, Maryline Kouba, Mojca Kos Durjava, Marta Lo
pez Puente, Francesca Marcon, Baltasar Mayo, Alena Pechova
, Mariana Petkova,
Secundino Lo
Fernando Ramos, Yolanda Sanz, Roberto Edoardo Villa, Ruud Woutersen, Gabriele Aquilina,
€rgen Gropp, Carlo Nebbia and Matteo Lorenzo Innocenti
Georges Bories, Ju
Abstract
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances
used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of ammonium
formate for all animal species. In 2015, the FEEDAP Panel delivered an opinion on the safety and efficacy
of ammonium formate, calcium formate and sodium formate. In that opinion, the Panel considered the
unavoidable presence of formamide, as a contaminant of ammonium formate, of concern for
developmental toxicity for reproduction animals and for carcinogenicity for non-food-producing animals.
Regarding the safety for the consumer, the Panel concluded that: the use of the additive in dairy animals
and laying poultry may raise concerns due to the potential exposure of consumers to formamide. In the
current submission, the applicant proposed to reduce the maximum content of ammonium formate in
feed to 2,000 mg formic acid equivalent/kg feed from the previously proposed 12,000 mg/kg for pigs
and 10,000 mg/kg for all other animal species. Based on the calculation of the maximum safe
concentration of formamide in feed, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of ammonium
formate in complete feed for laying hens and sows, since the calculate maximum concentration of
formamide in feed (11.5 mg formamide/kg) exceed the maximum safe concentration in feed for these
species (5.6 mg formamide/kg for laying hens and 9.9 mg formamide/kg for sows). Based on the results
of a residue study in eggs, the use of ammonium formate in animal nutrition at a maximum content of
2,000 mg formic acid equivalent/kg complete feed would not result in concerns on the safety for the
consumer.
© 2020 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf
of European Food Safety Authority.
Keywords: Ammonium formate, formamide, technological additive, safety for the target species,
safety for the consumer
Requestor: European Commission
Question number: EFSA-Q-2018-00341
Correspondence:
[email protected]
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EFSA Journal 2020;18(4):6076
Ammonium formate for all animal species
Panel members: Giovanna Azimonti, Vasileios Bampidis Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Henrik Christensen,
pez-Alonso, Secundino Lo
pez Puente,
Birgit Dusemund, Mojca Kos Durjava, Maryline Kouba, Marta Lo
Francesca Marcon, Baltasar Mayo, Alena Pechova, Mariana Petkova, Fernando Ramos, Yolanda Sanz,
Roberto Edoardo Villa and Ruud Woutersen.
Suggested citation: EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used
in Animal Feed), Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Kouba M, Kos
pez-Alonso M, Lo
pez Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechova
A, Petkova M, Ramos F, Sanz
Durjava M, Lo
Y, Villa RE, Woutersen R, Aquilina G, Bories G, Gropp J, Nebbia C and Innocenti ML, 2020. Scientific
Opinion on the safety of ammonium formate (E 295) for all animal species. EFSA Journal 2020;18
(4):6076, 12 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6076
ISSN: 1831-4732
© 2020 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf
of European Food Safety Authority.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs License,
which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and no
modifications or adaptations are made.
The EFSA Journal is a publication of the European Food
Safety Authority, an agency of the European Union.
www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal
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Ammonium formate for all animal species
Table of Contents
Abstract...................................................................................................................................................
1.
Introduction................................................................................................................................
Background and Terms of Reference as provided by the requestor..................................................
1.1.
Additional information..................................................................................................................
1.2.
2.
Data and methodologies ..............................................................................................................
Data...........................................................................................................................................
2.1.
Methodologies.............................................................................................................................
2.2.
3.
Assessment.................................................................................................................................
3.1.
Conditions of use ........................................................................................................................
3.2.
Safety ........................................................................................................................................
3.2.1. Toxicological profile of formamide.................................................................................................
3.2.2. Safety for the target species ........................................................................................................
3.2.3. Safety for the consumer ..............................................................................................................
3.2.3.1. Residue study .............................................................................................................................
3.2.3.2. Consumer exposure.....................................................................................................................
3.2.3.3. Conclusions on the safety for the consumer ..................................................................................
4.
Conclusions.................................................................................................................................
Documentation as provided to EFSA/Chronology............................................................................
5.
References...............................................................................................................................................
Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................................................
Appendix A – Calculation of consumer exposure with FACE model................................................................
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1.
Introduction
1.1.
Background and Terms of Reference as provided by the requestor
Regulation (EC) No 1831/20031 establishes the rules governing the Community authorisation of
additives for use in animal nutrition and in particular, Article 9 defines the terms of such authorisation
by the Commission.
The applicant, Nutreco Nederland B.V. Trade,2 is seeking a Community authorization for Ammonium
formate (E295) as a feed additive for all animal species. (Table 1)
Table 1:
Description of the substances
Category of additive
Technological additive
Functional group of additive
Description
preservatives
Ammonium formate (E295)
Target animal category
Applicant
All animal species
Nutreco Nederland B.V. Trade
Type of request
New opinion
On 05 May 2015, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed of the
European Food Safety Authority (“Authority”), in its opinion3 on the safety and efficacy of the product
when used as a technological additive for all animal species, could not conclude on the safety of
ammonium formate for target species and consumers.
The Commission gave the possibility to the applicant to submit complementary information in order
to complete the assessment and to allow a revision of the Authority’s opinion. The new data have
been received on 09 April 2018.
In view of the above, the Commission asks the Authority to deliver a new opinion on ammonium
formate as a preservative for all animal species based on the additional data submitted by the applicant.
1.2.
Additional information
Ammonium formate (E 295) is presently listed in the EU Register of Feed Additives as technological
additives (functional group: preservatives) for use in feed for all animal species without time limit, and
it is subject to re-evaluation.4 Ammonium formate is authorised in food legislation as food packaging
additive (E 295, Directive 2007/42/EC5) for use in ‘ingredients for manufacturing’ intended to come in
contact with food.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) issued two opinions on ammonium
formate (JECFA, 1974, 1998) allocating an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–3 mg/kg/body weight (bw)
per day.
The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) adopted in
2015 two opinions3,6 on ammonium formate as technological additives for all animal species (EFSA
FEEDAP Panel, 2015a,b). In those opinions, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of the
additive for reproducing and non-food producing animals, and for the consumer.
The applicant has submitted new information to support the safety of ammonium formate as a
preservative in feedingstuffs for all animal species.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in
animal nutrition. OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29.
Nutreco Nederland B.V. Trade, Stationsstraat 77 3811 MH Amersfoort, Netherlands.
The opinion linked to the previous dossier (related to EFSA-Q-2011-00424) is available on the EFSA website: https://efsa.online
library.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4056
FEED dossier reference: FAD-2018-0016.
Commission Directive 2007/42/EC of 29 June 2007 relating to materials and articles made of regenerated cellulose film
intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
The opinion linked to the previous dossier (related to EFSA-Q-2013-00755) is available on the EFSA website: https://efsa.online
library.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4113
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2.
Data and methodologies
2.1.
Data
The present assessment is based on data submitted by the applicant in the form of additional
information4 to previous applications on the same product.7
2.2.
Methodologies
The approach followed by the FEEDAP Panel to assess the safety of ammonium formate is in line
with the principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 429/20088 and the relevant guidance documents:
Guidance on technological additives (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2012), Guidance for the preparation of
dossiers for the re-evaluation of certain additives already authorised under Directive 70/524/EEC
(EFSA, 2008), Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the target species (EFSA
FEEDAP Panel, 2017a) and Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the
consumer (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017b).
3.
Assessment
The additive under assessment is ammonium formate, intended to be used as a technological
additive (functional group: preservatives) in feed for all animal species. The additive was fully
characterised in the previous opinion on the safety and efficacy of formic acid, ammonium formate and
sodium formate as technological additive for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a).
In its previous opinion (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a), the Panel concluded that ‘the presence of
formamide (a developmental toxicant) in ammonium formate additives is a concern. Even if the
concentration of formamide in the additive is restricted to a maximum of 0.3%, as proposed, this is
considered insufficient to guarantee the protection of reproduction animals. There is also evidence
from animal studies of a carcinogenic potential of formamide which is an argument for avoiding the
use of ammonium formate-containing additives in non-food-producing animals’.
Regarding the safety for the consumer, the Panel concluded that: ‘although the use of ammonium
formate in growing/fattening animals would not raise any safety concern for the consumer, its use in
dairy animals and laying poultry may raise concerns due to the potential exposure of consumers to
formamide’.
The applicant has provided new arguments to support the safety of the additive for the target
species and new data on the presence of residues of formamide in eggs. In addition, they proposed a
modification in the conditions of use, reducing the maximum ammonium formate content in complete
feedingstuffs to 2,000 mg (formic acid equivalent)/kg for all animal species, from the original
12,000 mg/kg for pigs and 10,000 mg/kg for all the other species.
3.1.
Conditions of use
The applicant is proposing to modify the original conditions of use of the additive as follow:
a) The additive is intended to be used as a preservative in feedingstuffs for all animal species
except for dairy ruminants and non-food-producing animals.
b) The maximum proposed content in complete feedingstuff is 2,000 mg (formic acid
equivalent)/kg.
3.2.
Safety
3.2.1.
Toxicological profile of formamide
In its former opinion (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a), the FEEDAP Panel identified a concern for the
presence of the unavoidable contaminant formamide, because of its reproductive and potential
carcinogenic properties. In particular, three studies (Leuscher, 1974; NTP, 2001; George et al., 2000a)
were already evaluated in the previous assessment (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a).
7
8
FEED dossier reference: FAD-2018-0016 and FAD-2013-0036.
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.
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In the current dossier, the applicant did not provide any new toxicological data on formamide but
proposed a new interpretation of the data already provided and evaluated in the EFSA opinion (EFSA
FEEDAP Panel, 2015a).
In the previous EFSA assessment (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a), a no observed adverse effect level
(NOAEL) was identified for reproductive effects (maternal and embryo/fetotoxicity) in a study
(Leuscher, 1974) in pregnant New Zealand White rabbits (N = 10/group) given formamide via gavage
at 0, 34, 113 or 340 mg formamide/kg bw per day on gestation day 6 to 18. Mortality was increased
(7/10) at the top exposure level, with clinical signs of toxicity in some animals at the lower dosage
(113 mg formamide/kg bw per day), including inappetence and vaginal bleeding. Post-implantation
losses were significantly increased at 113 mg/kg bw per day. Fetal weights were decreased and
increased numbers of fetal variations were seen at 113 and 340 mg/kg bw per day. No teratogenic
effects were observed. A NOAEL of 34 mg/kg bw per day was identified, based on maternal toxicity
and embryotoxicity seen at doses equal or greater than 113 mg formamide/kg bw per day.
In the current dossier, the applicant provided a different interpretation of the results of the
available studies (Leuscher, 1974; NTP, 2001; George et al., 2000), expressing criticism towards the
study in rabbits (Leuscher, 1974) selected by EFSA to derive the NOAEL for reproductive toxicity. This
study was done before the issue of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) guidelines for reproductive and developmental studies. The applicant proposed instead to reconsider two more recent National Toxicology Program (NTP) studies, one performed in rabbits and
another one in rats, already submitted in the original application and assessed by the FEEDAP Panel in
the previous opinion.
In the first study (NTP, 2001),9 female New Zealand White rabbits were dosed by gavage with
formamide (35, 70 or 140 mg/kg bw per day) or its vehicle (deionised/distilled water) on GD 6
through 29. The study was conducted in a two-replicates design. Twenty-four naturally mated female
rabbits (12 per replicate) were assigned to each group; mortality and other signs of toxicity (e.g.
reduction body weight, feed intake, gravid uterine weight) were noted in does only at the highest
dose, resulting in a maternal NOAEL of 70 mg/kg bw per day. In addition, formamide caused
significant treatment-related developmental toxicity at 140 mg/kg per day, consisting of reduced mean
live litter size and fetal body weight per litter. Consequently, the developmental toxicity NOAEL was
also 70 mg/kg per day.
In the second study (George et al., 2000), mated female rats were administered formamide via
gavage at doses of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw per day on GD 6 through 19. No maternal mortality
was observed throughout the experiment. The administration of the highest formamide dosage
(200 mg/kg bw per day) resulted in the decrease of maternal body weight, weight gain and gravid
uterine weight. Formamide did not affect prenatal viability or the incidence of fetal malformations or
variations but decreased the average fetal body weight/litter at both 200 and 100 mg/kg/bw per day.
The NOAEL for maternal toxicity in rats was 100 mg formamide/kg bw per day and the NOAEL for
developmental toxicity was 50 mg formamide/kg bw/day. Taking into account the results of the above
described studies, the applicant proposes to retain the value of 50 mg formamide/kg bw per day as
the NOAEL for the developmental toxicity.
The FEEDAP Panel considers that the three studies (Leuscher, 1974; NTP, 2001; George et al., 2000)
were already evaluated in the previous assessment (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a) and that no new evidence
on the toxicological profile of formamide has been provided by the applicant in the current application. The
FEEDAP Panel further considers that the three studies remain valid and there is no ground for a
modification of the conclusions previously reached. Consequently, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that the
lowest NOAEL of 34 mg/kg bw per day, identified in the three studies, is still valid for formamide.
3.2.2.
Safety for the target species
In the previous opinion (EFSA FEEDAP Panel 2015a), the FEEDAP Panel estimated the exposure of
reproductive animals (sows, laying hens and dairy cows) to formamide considering the maximum
content of ammonium formate of 12,000 mg/kg complete feed for pigs and 10,000 mg/kg complete
feed for the other species, and the maximum concentration of 0.3% formamide in the additive. The
resulting exposure corresponded to 2.1, 3.4 and 1.8 mg formamide/kg bw per day for sows, laying
hens and dairy cows, respectively. The Panel concluded that ‘the difference between the potential
9
Technical dossier/Section III/Ref_III_15_NTP_2001.
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exposure and the NOAEL identified in the rabbit study is considered insufficient to guarantee the
protection of reproduction animals’ (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2015a).
The applicant does not support the application for the authorisation of the additive for lactating
ruminants and non food-producing animals and asks to reduce the maximum inclusion level of
ammonium formate in complete feed to 2,000 mg/kg (as formic acid equivalent), with a maximum
content of formamide of 0.3% additive, will reduce the maximum formamide content in complete feed
to 11.5 mg/kg.
In order to calculate the maximum feed concentration of formamide which can be considered safe for the
target species, the Panel used the approach described in the Guidance on safety for the target species (EFSA
FEEDAP Panel, 2017a). The NOAEL of 34 mg/kg bw per day for formamide was used (see Section 3.2.1).
Applying an uncertainty factor (UF) of 100 to the NOAEL, the maximum calculated safe concentration in feed
for laying hens and sows would correspond to 5.6 and 9.9 mg/kg complete feed, respectively. Both values
are below the calculated concentration of formamide in compete feed (11.5 mg/kg).
Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel is not in the position to conclude on the safety of ammonium formate at a
maximum concentration of 2,000 mg formic acid equivalent/kg complete feed for laying hens and sows.
3.2.3.
Safety for the consumer
In its previous opinion, the Panel raised concerns for the safety of consumers regarding the use of
the additive in dairy animals and laying poultry due to the potential exposure of consumers to
formamide. In the present submission, the applicant has provided a residue study in laying hens.
3.2.3.1. Residue study
A study on the transfer of formamide from feed to eggs of laying hens was submitted. A total of 87
laying hens (Dekalb White, 77 weeks old) were distributed into five groups according to the
experimental protocol described on Table 2. A standard laying hen feed was supplemented with
ammonium formate at 0.5 times the maximum dose proposed for use (group 1: equivalent to
1,000 mg formic acid/kg) and at that dose (groups 2, 3, 4 and 5: 10,000 mg/kg). In these groups,
ammonium formate was spiked with increasing doses of formamide and the analytically measured
average values in feed were retained for transfer calculations of formamide.
Table 2:
Group
number
Experimental protocol of the residue studies in eggs
Laying
hens/pens
(animals/
pen)
Ammonium formate
inclusion level
(as formic acid
equivalent, mg/kg
feed)
Formamide
content in the Formamide
spiked level
additive
%
Analysed formamide
concentration in feed
(mg/kg)2
1
30, 10
(3)
1,000
0.3
0.5 91
7.3
2
30, 10
(3)
9, 3
(3)
10,000
0.3
59
66.3
10,000
1.2
20 9
208
4
9, 3
(3)
10,000
2.1
35 9
340
5
9, 3
(3)
10,000
3.0
50 9
542
3
1
Level corresponding to the level deriving from the use of the additive at the maximum recommended concentration of 2000 mg
formic acid equivalent/kg complete feed.
2
Analytically determined average values.
All animals were accustomed for 7 days to the control feed then were administered the formamide
spiked feed from day 7 until day 40. Eggs were collected per pen per day at day 6 (pre-experimental
period), day 37, day 38 and day 39, homogenised and kept at 20°C; the samples were analysed in
duplicate.
The analysis of the eggs indicated similar formamide concentrations after 31, 32 and 33 days of
exposure, indicating that the metabolic steady-state was reached. A linear relationship was shown to
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occur between the formamide level in the feed and that measured in the eggs, with: formamide in
eggs (mg/kg) = 0.0494 9 [formamide in feed (mg/kg)] + 0.4493 (R2 = 0.9606).
On the basis of the linear regression equation between formamide in layer feed and formamide in
eggs, it can be calculated that the expected amount of formamide in eggs will be 1.02 mg/kg at the
maximum recommended level of 2,000 mg formic acid equivalents/kg of complete feed with maximum
0.3% formamide. Using the upper 95% confidence level of the regression, the expected concentration
of formamide in eggs would be 1.32 mg/kg.
The FEEDAP Panel notes that formamide concentrations in feed used to calculate the linear
regression for formamide in feed and in eggs were not centred at the expected maximum inclusion
level of formamide in feed. This value is 11.5 mg formamide/kg complete feed, the values used in the
experiment and consequently in the regression analysis are between 7.3 and 542 mg/kg (see Table 2).
However, the high R2 is considered to partially compensate this weakness.
3.2.3.2. Consumer exposure
For the current assessment, the exposure of consumers has been calculated following the
methodology described in the most recent Guidance on the safety of feed additives for consumers
(EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017b) (for further details see Appendix A), using the residue data reported in
the residue study (see Section 3.2.3.1).
The exposure to formamide at the 95th percentile varied between 0.0017 mg/kg bw per day in the
category ‘elderly’ and 0.0055 mg/kg bw per day in the category ‘other children’.
The NOAEL identified for formamide (34 mg/kg bw and day) is by a factor of 20,000 and 6,200,
respectively, higher than the estimated exposure of consumers.
3.2.3.3. Conclusions on the safety for the consumer
Based on the above, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that use of ammonium formate in feed for laying
hens at the maximum use level of 2,000 mg/kg complete feed would not raise concerns on the safety
for the consumers.
Considering the outcome of the previous opinion and the new data assessed above, the FEEDAP
Panel concludes that use of ammonium formate in animal nutrition at the proposed conditions of use is
safe for the consumers.
4.
Conclusions
The FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of ammonium formate in complete feed for laying hens
and sows, since the calculated maximum concentration of formamide in feed (11.5 mg formamide/kg)
exceed the maximum safe concentration in feed for these species (5.6 mg formamide/kg for laying hens
and 9.9 mg formamide/kg for sows).
The use of ammonium formate in diets of laying hens at the maximum use level of 2000 mg/kg is
considered safe for the consumers. Considering also the outcome of the previous opinion, the FEEDAP
Panel concludes that use of ammonium formate in animal nutrition at the proposed conditions of use is
safe for the consumers.
5.
Documentation as provided to EFSA/Chronology
Date
Event
09/04/2018
02/05/2018
Dossier received by EFSA. Ammonium formate (E 295) submitted by Nutreco
Reception mandate from the European Commission
22/05/2018
Application validated by EFSA – Start of the scientific assessment
18/03/2020
Opinion adopted by the FEEDAP Panel. End of the Scientific assessment
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doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2008.779
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pez-Alonso M, Lo
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10.htm
€chtige Kaninchen und den
€fung des Einflusses von Formamid (Charge XXIII/245) auf das tra
Leuscher F, 1974. Pru
Foetus bei Verabreichung per Schludsonde.
NTP, 2001. Final study report developmental toxicity evaluation of formamide (cas no. 75-12-7) administered by
gavage to new zealand white rabbits on gestational days 6 throuGH 29, Research Triangle Institute, North
Carolina 27709-2194, National Toxicology Program P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Abbreviations
ADI
bw
FEEDAP
JECFA
NOAEL
NTP
OECD
RAC
UF
WHO
acceptable daily intake
body weight
Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
no observed adverse effect level
National Toxicology Program
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
raw agricultural commodities
uncertainty factor
World Health Organization
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Ammonium formate for all animal species
Appendix A – Calculation of consumer exposure with FACE model
Methodology
As described in the Guidance on the safety of feed additives for consumers (EFSA, FEEDAP
Panel, 2017b), consumption data of edible tissues and products as derived from the EFSA
Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database (Comprehensive Database) will be used to
assess exposure to residues from the use of feed additives in different EU countries, age classes10 and
special population groups. For each EU country and age class, only the latest survey available in the
Comprehensive Database will be used.
While the residue data reported for feed additives refer to organs and tissues (raw agricultural
commodities (RAC)), the Comprehensive Database includes consumption data for foods as consumed.
In order to match those consumption data with the available residue data for feed additives, the
consumption data reported in the Comprehensive Database have been converted into RAC equivalents.
For assessing the exposure to coccidiostats from their use in (non-reproductive) poultry, the following
list of commodities is considered: meat, fat, liver, other offals (including kidney).
Depending on the nature of the health-based guidance derived, either a chronic or acute exposure
assessment may be required.
For chronic exposure assessments, the total relevant residues will be combined for each individual
with the average daily consumptions of the corresponding food commodities, and the resulting
exposures per food will be summed in order to obtain total chronic exposure at individual level
(standardised by using the individual body weight). The mean and the higher percentile (usually the
95th percentile) of the individual exposures will be subsequently calculated for each dietary survey
(country) and each age class separately.
As opposed to the chronic exposure assessments, acute exposure calculation will be carried out for
each RAC value separately. The higher percentile (usually the 95th percentile) exposures based on the
consuming days only will be calculated for each food commodity, dietary survey and age class
separately.
Detailed results on chronic exposure calculation
Table A.1:
Chronic dietary exposure per population class, country and survey (mg/kg bw per day) of
consumers to formamide residues eggs of laying hens fed ammonium formate (containing
0.3% formamide) at the concentration of 2,000 mg formic acid equivalent/kg complete
feed
Number of subjects
HRP(1)
HRP description
Bulgaria
523
0.00453
95th
Infants
Infants
Denmark
Finland
799
427
0.00100
0.00000
95th
95th
Infants
Infants
Germany
Italy
142
9
0.00116
0.00000
95th
50th
Infants
Toddlers
United Kingdom
Belgium
1,251
36
0.00292
0.00258
95th
90th
Toddlers
Toddlers
Bulgaria
Denmark
428
917
0.00516
0.00226
95th
95th
Toddlers
Toddlers
Finland
Germany
500
348
0.00178
0.00318
95th
95th
Toddlers
Toddlers
Italy
Netherlands
36
322
0.00295
0.00372
90th
95th
Toddlers
Toddlers
Spain
United Kingdom
17
1,314
0.00408
0.00401
75th
95th
Toddlers
United Kingdom
185
0.00355
95th
Population class
Survey’s country
Infants
10
Infants: < 12 months old, toddlers: ≥ 12 months to < 36 months old, other children: ≥ 36 months to < 10 years old,
adolescents: ≥ 10 years to < 18 years old, adults: ≥ 18 years to < 65 years old, elderly: ≥ 65 years to < 75 years old, and
very elderly: ≥ 75 years old.
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Ammonium formate for all animal species
Number of subjects
HRP(1)
HRP description
Austria
128
0.00324
95th
Other children
Other children
Belgium
Bulgaria
625
433
0.00261
0.00476
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Czech Republic
Denmark
389
298
0.00340
0.00225
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Finland
France
750
482
0.00247
0.00315
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Germany
Germany
293
835
0.00331
0.00337
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Greece
Italy
838
193
0.00482
0.00395
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Latvia
Netherlands
187
957
0.00287
0.00326
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Netherlands
Spain
447
399
0.00284
0.00395
95th
95th
Other children
Other children
Spain
Sweden
156
1,473
0.00552
0.00228
95th
95th
Other children
Adolescents
United Kingdom
Austria
651
237
0.00269
0.00200
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Belgium
Cyprus
576
303
0.00156
0.00128
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Czech Republic
Denmark
298
377
0.00199
0.00107
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Finland
France
306
973
0.00087
0.00168
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Germany
Germany
393
1,011
0.00268
0.00141
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Italy
Latvia
247
453
0.00224
0.00224
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Netherlands
Spain
1,142
651
0.00170
0.00277
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Spain
Spain
209
86
0.00355
0.00145
95th
95th
Adolescents
Adolescents
Sweden
United Kingdom
1,018
666
0.00144
0.00154
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Austria
Belgium
308
1,292
0.00114
0.00124
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Czech Republic
Denmark
1,666
1,739
0.00140
0.00090
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Finland
France
1,295
2,276
0.00139
0.00117
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Germany
Hungary
10,419
1,074
0.00132
0.00153
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Ireland
Italy
1,274
2,313
0.00116
0.00151
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Latvia
Netherlands
1,271
2,055
0.00194
0.00134
95th
95th
Adults
Adults
Romania
Spain
1,254
981
0.00181
0.00163
95th
95th
Adults
Spain
410
0.00165
95th
Population class
Survey’s country
Other children
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EFSA Journal 2020;18(4):6076
Ammonium formate for all animal species
Number of subjects
HRP(1)
HRP description
Sweden
1,430
0.00183
95th
Adults
Elderly
United Kingdom
Austria
1,265
67
0.00124
0.00123
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Belgium
Denmark
511
274
0.00112
0.00103
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Finland
France
413
264
0.00109
0.00098
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Germany
Hungary
2,006
206
0.00120
0.00129
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Ireland
Italy
149
289
0.00133
0.00118
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Netherlands
Netherlands
173
289
0.00110
0.00117
95th
95th
Elderly
Elderly
Romania
Sweden
83
295
0.00165
0.00170
95th
95th
Elderly
Very elderly
United Kingdom
Austria
166
25
0.00111
0.00075
95th
75th
Very elderly
Very elderly
Belgium
Denmark
704
12
0.00121
0.00069
95th
75th
Very elderly
Very elderly
France
Germany
84
490
0.00102
0.00124
95th
95th
Very elderly
Very elderly
Hungary
Ireland
80
77
0.00136
0.00124
95th
95th
Very elderly
Very elderly
Italy
Netherlands
228
450
0.00119
0.00110
95th
95th
Very elderly
Very elderly
Romania
Sweden
45
72
0.00132
0.00214
90th
95th
Very elderly
United Kingdom
139
0.00103
95th
Population class
Survey’s country
Adults
bw: body weight.
(1): HRP: highest reliable percentile, i.e. the highest percentile that is considered statistically robust for combinations of dietary
survey, age class and possibly raw primary commodity, considering that a minimum of 5, 12, 30 and 61 observations are
respectively required to derive 50th, 75th and 90th and 95th percentile estimates. Estimates with less than 5 observations
were not included in this table.
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