Abstract
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of the additive containing viable cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R618 (Benesacc®) as a zootechnical feed additive (functional group: gut flora stabilisers) for chickens for fattening and other poultry species for fattening or rearing for laying. In a previous assessment, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment. Regarding user safety, the additive was identified as a skin and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure through these routes was considered a risk, while no conclusion was reached for the eye irritation potential. Due to insufficient data, the Panel was unable to conclude on the efficacy of the additive for poultry species for fattening or reared for laying. The applicant submitted a new efficacy trial in chickens for fattening to support the efficacy in poultry species for fattening or reared for laying. The results of the study showed that the birds fed at the minimum recommended inclusion level 4 × 10(9) colony-forming unit (CFU)/kg of complete feed had better zootechnical performance compared to the control group. Considering the results from both current and previous efficacy trials, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive has the potential to be efficacious in chickens for fattening when included at 4 × 10(9) CFU/kg of complete feed. This conclusion was extended to chickens reared for laying and extrapolated to other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying.