Aquaculture for all

EFSA Gives Positive Opinion on Mycotoxin Biotransformation

Nutrition Health Post-harvest +1 more

EU - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted a positive scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Biomin BBSH 797. Part of the well-established Mycofix product line, this microorganism is capable of biotransforming trichothecenes into harmless metabolites.

Biomin receives as the first company in the world a positive opinion from EFSA on mycotoxin biotransformation. In their scientific opinion, EFSA concluded that Biomin® BBSH 797 (part of the well-established Mycofix® product line) is not only safe for animals, humans and the environment, but also demonstrably efficacious in target species.

Following a request from the European Commission, the FEEDAP Panel acknowledged the product’s efficacy to reduce the epoxide group of trichothecenes to produce less toxic and thus, harmless metabolites. The Panel concluded that the evidence presented in ex-vivo and in-vivo studies confirms that this efficacy can be realised in animals when the additive is incorporated into trichothecene-contaminated diets.

Trichothecenes comprise the largest group of mycotoxins, the agriculturally most important thereof belonging to type A- (e.g. T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol) or type B- trichothecenes (e.g. deoxynivalenol, nivalenol). They are one of the major mycotoxins groups affecting not just Europe but worldwide. According to the latest Biomin mycotoxin survey report 2012, which analysed 4,023 samples worldwide, DON was found in 64 per cent of all samples with an average contamination of over 1,000pbb in all tested samples.

Dian Schatzmayr, Director of Competence Center Mycotoxins within the Biomin Research Center, commented: "In 2010, we were the first feed additive company to submit a dossier for an aflatoxin binder and the first to have a positive opinion by EFSA on the approval of a feed additive with mycotoxin-counteracting properties. The dossier for the trichothecene- biotransforming product Biomin® BBSH 797 was submitted only a few months after EFSA officially published their guidance document in 2012.

"The fact that the evaluation process was completed in record time attests once again to the significant level of R&D investment and Biomin’s leadership in mycotoxin risk management,” added Schatzmayr.

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