Skip to main content
EFSA Journal logoLink to EFSA Journal
. 2023 Jun 9;21(6):e07953. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7953

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of potassium ferrocyanide for all animal species (K + S KALI GmbH)*

EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Vasileios Bampidis, Giovanna Azimonti, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Henrik Christensen, Birgit Dusemund, Mojca Durjava, Maryline Kouba, Marta López‐Alonso, Secundino López Puente, Francesca Marcon, Baltasar Mayo, Alena Pechová, Mariana Petkova, Fernando Ramos, Yolanda Sanz, Roberto Edoardo Villa, Ruud Woutersen, Gabriele Aquilina, Georges Bories, Carlo Nebbia, Jürgen Gropp, Jaume Galobart, Maria Vittoria Vettori, Montserrat Anguita, Jordi Ortuño Casanova, Angelica Amaduzzi, Matteo Lorenzo Innocenti
PMCID: PMC10251259  PMID: 37304350

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of potassium ferrocyanide as a technological feed additive, functional group anticaking agents, for all animal species. The additive potassium ferrocyanide is intended to be used in potassium chloride with a maximum content of 150 mg ferrocyanide anion/kg salt. The use of potassium ferrocyanide is safe, when added to potassium chloride at a maximum content of 150 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg for: pigs for fattening and lactating sows, sheep, goats, salmon and dogs. In the absence of a margin of safety, the use of potassium chloride according to the proposed conditions of use is not considered to be safe for chickens for fattening, laying hens, turkeys, piglets, veal calf, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, horse, rabbit and cats. In the absence of information on the use of potassium chloride in the diets for any other animal species, no conclusion on a potentially safe level of potassium chloride, supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg, can be made. The use of potassium ferrocyanide in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety. The results of in vivo studies showed that potassium ferrocyanide is not irritant to skin and eye and is not a skin sensitiser. However, due to the presence of nickel, the additive should be considered as a respiratory and dermal sensitiser. The available data do not allow the FEEDAP Panel to conclude on the safety of the additive for the soil and the marine environment, while the use of the additive in land‐based aquaculture according to the proposed conditions of use is considered of no concern. Potassium ferrocyanide is considered to be efficacious as an anticaking agent when included in potassium chloride at the proposed use levels.

Keywords: technological additives, anticaking agents, potassium ferrocyanide, safety, efficacy

1. Introduction

1.1. Background and Terms of Reference

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 1 establishes the rules governing the Community authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition. In particular, Article 4(1) of that Regulation lays down that any person seeking authorisation for a feed additive or for a new use of feed additive shall submit an application in accordance with Article 7.

The European Commission received a request from K + S KALI GmbH 2 for authorisation of the product potassium ferrocyanide (E536), when used as a feed additive for all animal species (category: technological additive; functional group: anti‐caking agents).

According to Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, the Commission forwarded the application to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as an application under Article 4(1) (authorisation of a feed additive or new use of a feed additive). The particulars and documents in support of the application were considered valid by EFSA as of 27 November 2013.

According to Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, EFSA, after verifying the particulars and documents submitted by the applicant, shall undertake an assessment in order to determine whether the feed additive complies with the conditions laid down in Article 5. EFSA shall deliver an opinion on the safety for the target animals, consumer, user and the environment and on the efficacy of the feed additive consisting of potassium ferrocyanide, when used under the proposed conditions of use (see Section 3.1.3 ).

1.2. Additional information

Potassium ferrocyanide is currently authorised as a feed additive, 3 with a maximum content of 80 mg/kg NaCl (calculated as ferrocyanide anion).

Potassium ferrocyanide is currently authorised as a food additive in accordance with Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 4 , to be used in salt and salt substitutes. Specific purity criteria on potassium ferrocyanide have been defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 5 .

Potassium ferrocyanide has not been previously assessed by EFSA as feed additive.

The Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition (SCAN) has already delivered an opinion on Potassium ferrocyanide as anticaking agents (European Commission, 2001).

Potassium ferrocyanide was assessed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA, 1970a,b, 1974a,b,c, 1975) and by the Scientific Committee for food (SCF) (European Commission, 1991). The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) delivered an opinion on the safety of potassium ferrocyanide (E536) (EFSA ANS Panel, 2018). Potassium ferrocyanide has not been previously assessed by EFSA as feed additive.

2. Data and Methodologies

2.1. Data

The present assessment is based on data submitted by the applicant in the form of a technical dossier 6 in support of the authorisation request for the use of potassium ferrocyanide as feed additive.

The FEEDAP Panel used the data provided by the applicant together with data from other sources, such as previous risk assessments by EFSA or other expert bodies, peer‐reviewed scientific papers, other scientific reports, to deliver the present output.

EFSA has verified the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) report as it relates to the methods used for the control of the potassium ferrocyanide in animal feed.

2.2. Methodologies

The approach followed by the FEEDAP Panel to assess the safety and the efficacy of potassium ferrocyanide is in line with the principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 429/2008 7 and the relevant guidance documents: Guidance on studies concerning the safety of use of the additive for users/workers (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2012), Guidance on the identity, characterisation and conditions of use of feed additives (EFSA FEEEDAP Panel, 2017a), Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the target species (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017b), Guidance on the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2018) and Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the environment (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2019).

3. Assessment

The present assessment is related to an additive consisting of potassium hexacyanoferrate. It is intended to be used as a technological additive (functional group: anticaking agents) in potassium chloride for all animal species.

3.1. Characterisation

3.1.1. Manufacturing process

The additive is produced by chemical synthesis and can be manufactured following two production processes. In the first one, calcium hexacyanoferrate is prepared from the reaction of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), iron (II) chloride (FeCl2) and calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2. After filtration, the solution is concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure, and the calcium hexacyanoferrate crystallises with 11 molecules of water. Two methods are used for the conversion of calcium hexacyanoferrate to the potassium salt, either the formation of a double potassium/calcium salt following the addition of stoichiometric amounts of potassium chloride, which is further treated with calcium carbonate to release the potassium salt, or the preparation of iron hexacyanoferrate by the addition of iron chloride followed by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of potassium cyanide.

The second production process consists in the reaction of hydrocyanic acid, potassium hydroxide and iron as starting materials. After reaction and filtration, potassium ferrocyanide is crystallised and dried to obtain the additive.

3.1.2. Characterisation of the additive

The additive is composed only of the active substance potassium ferrocyanide (potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) trihydrate, (chemical formula: K4 [Fe(CN)6]·3H2O)), identified by the CAS number 14459–95‐1 and EINECS number 237–722‐2. The additive is a lemon‐yellow coloured, fine crystallised and odourless powder. It has a molecular weight of 422.4 g/mol, its solubility in water is 289 g/L (at 20°C) and it has a density of 1,850 kg/m3.

The additive is specified to contain potassium ferrocyanide ≥ 99%, moisture ≤ 1%, water insoluble matter ≤ 0.03%, chloride (Cl) ≤ 0.2%, sulphate (SO4) ≤ 0.1%, lead ≤ 5 mg/kg, free cyanide not detectable and ferricyanide not detectable.

Analytical data were provided for five batches of the additive (no details on the manufacturing process followed were available), 8 showing the following average values: 8.78% (1.9 –11.1) loss of drying, 53.2% (47 –59) hexacyanoferrate(II), corresponding to calculated 106.4% (94 –118) potassium ferrocyanide.

The same five batches were analysed for impurities and for dioxins and dioxins like polychlorinated biphenyls. Cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic and nickel concentrations showed the following values: < 0.01 –0.09 mg cadmium/kg, 0.31 –1.2 mg lead/kg, < 0.005 –< 0.01 mg mercury/kg, < 0.1 –1.8 mg arsenic/kg and < 0.5–2 mg nickel/kg. 9

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (Co‐planar PCBs) were analysed in the same five batches. The calculated (upper bound) levels of dioxins and the sum of dioxins and dioxin‐like‐PCBs were 0.08 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQ/kg and 0.12 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐PCB‐TEQ/kg, respectively.

The results regarding impurities do not raise safety concerns.

The dusting potential of potassium ferrocyanide was measured in one batch 10 according to DIN 33897–2 and to EN 15051, method B ‘continuous drop’. The test showed respirable dustiness mass fraction (WR) of 13.6 mg/kg and inhalable dustiness mass fraction (WI) of 1,259 mg/kg, corresponding to concentration of WR of 2.5 mg/m3 and of WI 237 mg/m3. The laser diffraction analysis of one batch of the additive showed that 20% of the particles had a diameter < 405 μm, 1.12% < 100 μm, 0.17% < 10 and no particles were < 3.15 μm. 11

3.1.3. Conditions of use

The additive potassium ferrocyanide is intended to be used as an anticaking agent. It is used in potassium chloride at a proposed maximum concentration of 150 mg ferrocyanide anion (anhydrous) from potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate/kg potassium chloride. 12 No specific maximum levels for complete feed are included.

The feed material potassium chloride supplemented with potassium ferrocyanide is intended to be used in feed for all animal species.

3.2. Safety

No specific studies done for the current application were provided. The safety for use in food of ferrocyanides (sodium‐, potassium‐ and calcium‐) was assessed by JECFA (JECFA, 1969, 1973, 1975) and by EFSA (EFSA ANS Panel, 2018). To support the safety of the additive the applicant referred to the conclusions reached in these evaluations and submitted the relevant studies. The main results of the previous assessments are summarised below, in the respective sections.

In addition, the applicant conducted an extensive literature search (ELS) to identify data which could support the safety of the additive. 13 The ELS done using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, CAB Direct, Science Direct and Google Scholar as database platform, covering the period between years 1990 and 2021, and using as keywords ferrocyanide (and relevant synonyms) and toxicology related terms.

3.2.1. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME)

A study (Nielsen et al., 1990a) performed in rat administered orally a single dose (10 mg) of labelled K4[59Fe(14CN)6] indicated that: (i) 59Fe was absorbed at a limited extent (up to 2.6%), most (about 95%) being recovered in the faeces and about 2.5% in the urine (14C in urine amounting to about 2.8% of the administered dose) after 7 days; the limited absorption may be compared to the 0.22% absorption measured in humans administered 500 mg (Nielsen et al., 1990b); (ii) K4[59Fe(14CN)6] was excreted essentially unchanged in the faeces, while in the urine up to 1.5% was unchanged and the rest appeared as Fe(II), cyanide and its main metabolite thiocyanate; exposure to free cyanide amounted to 0.06 mg/kg body weight (bw); (iii) the 14C activity (related to the cyanide moiety) found in the urine was significantly higher compared to the excretion of 59Fe(II), indicating that a fraction of the hexacyanoferrate(II) anion must have been hydrolysed either in the intestinal tract prior to the absorption of ferrous iron and cyanide or dissociated in the body after absorption of the anion; (iv) the 59Fe/14C‐ratios in the liver and kidney are close to 1.0, indicating that residues are likely non‐dissociated [Fe(CN)6]4.

The ADME of ammonium ferric [14C]hexacyanoferrate (AFCF) was studied in the cow (Arnaud et al., 1988) and previously assessed by EFSA FEEDAP Panel (2021). The results are summarised as follows: (i) in vitro incubation with rumen fluid showed that 9% of the compound was dissociated/metabolised to [14C]hexacyanoferrate (89%) and thiocyanate (11%), (ii) most of the radioactivity orally administered (single dose of about 1.7 g) in vivo (two animals) was recovered after 9 days in the faeces (92 and 96%, respectively) with 0.5–0.2% in the urine and 0.07–0.07% in the milk. [14C]hexacyanoferrate was identified as one of the main AFCF dissociation products/metabolites in the faeces (16%), which is consistent with the in vitro study, and in the urine (89%); (iii) average concentration of total radioactivity in milk was 300 Bq/L, equivalent to 0.025 mg/L; due to the very low levels of radioactivity, no direct identification of [14C]hexacyanoferrate was possible; (iv) very low amounts of radioactivity (≤ 6 Bq/kg above the background level, equivalent to 0.0005 mg/kg) were measured in the edible tissues analysed (i.e. liver and muscle) after 9‐day withdrawal. The results of this experiment, done with a single oral dose about 10–12 times higher than the level of the additive proposed for use, cannot be retained for a quantitative evaluation of the transfer of hexacyanoferrate to milk. However, they confirm the very limited absorption of this compound and its limited excretion in milk.

3.2.2. Toxicological studies

Ferrocyanides were evaluated by JECFA in 1969 (JECFA, 1969), which established a temporary acceptance of 0–0.00125 mg/kg bw per day. Subsequently a temporary acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–0.025 mg/kg bw per day (calculated as sodium ferrocyanide) was established by JECFA (1973), and confirmed in 1974 (JECFA, 1975).

The EFSA ANS Panel (EFSA ANS Panel, 2018) assessed the available information on ferrocyanides, in the context of the re‐evaluation of ferrocyanides as food additives; in its assessment, the EFSA ANS Panel reviewed sub‐chronic toxicity studies, genotoxicity studies and chronic toxicity studies, briefly summarised below.

The ANS Panel evaluated two sub‐chronic toxicity studies, one in rat and one in dog; treatment related effects on kidney (higher kidney weight, tubular damage and granular and calcified deposits) were observed in rats fed 450 or 4,500 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day for 13 weeks, while no effects were observed in dogs receiving up to 25 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day for 13 weeks.

With regards to genotoxicity, potassium ferrocyanide was negative in two Rec‐assay system with Bacillus subtilis strains H17 and M45, in a SOS Chromotest with Escherichia coli strains PQ37 and PQ35, with or without metabolic activation. In an in vitro Comet assay in human lymphocyte cells, sodium ferrocyanide did not induce DNA damage, while potassium ferrocyanide significantly increased DNA damage at high concentrations. The ANS Panel noted ‘that the effect may be related to an indirect mechanism, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under in vitro conditions which is based on the evidence that in food systems potassium ferrocyanide promotes lipid oxidation’ and concluded that ferrocyanides are not of genotoxic concern. The FEEDAP Panel noted that in mammalian cells only an in vitro Comet assay is reported, a test not validated for regulatory purposes, while no studies on chromosomal aberrations are available. However, the Panel considered that the proposed mechanism is expected to be expressed at rather high exposure levels and is unlikely to be of concern in the proposed conditions of use of the feed additive. Therefore, integrating the available information, the FEEDAP Panel supports the conclusion reached by the ANS Panel.

In two chronic toxicity studies, rats were fed 0, 50, 500 or 5,000 mg/kg sodium ferrocyanide in the diet (corresponding to 0, 4.4, 45 and 450.7 mg/kg bw per day for males and 0, 6.2, 62.5 and 630.1 mg/kg bw per day for females) for either 49 weeks or 2 years. No carcinogenic effects were observed and none of the non‐neoplastic findings observed was considered to be of toxicological relevance. However, in the 2‐year study, rats fed the mid and high doses frequently showed higher cell excretion rate in 2‐h urine samples. The ANS Panel considered ‘the increased cell excretion rate indicative for occasional, transient kidney toxicity’ and therefore, identified from this study a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 4.4 mg/kg bw per day in male rats and 6.2 mg/kg bw per day in female rats.

In one prenatal developmental toxicity study in rats, the highest dose tested of 1,000 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day was considered to be the NOAEL.

The ANS Panel used the lowest NOAEL identified in the chronic toxicity study in rat (4.4 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day for male rats) to derive an ADI of 0.044 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw per day. Based on the assumption that the toxicity of sodium ferrocyanide is due to the ferrocyanide ion only, the ANS Panel established a group ADI for sodium, potassium and calcium ferrocyanide of 0.03 mg/kg bw per day expressed as ferrocyanide ion.

The FEEDAP Panel, having reviewed the relevant studies, supports the conclusions reached by the EFSA ANS Panel in 2018 and considers the ADI of 0.03 mg ferrocyanide ion/kg bw per day as adequate for the present assessment.

3.2.3. Safety for the target species

No specific studies aimed to demonstrate the safety of the additive for the target species were made available. The maximum safe concentration of the additive in complete feed can be derived using the results of the toxicological studies (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017a,b,c). From the results of the toxicological studies available (see Section 3.2.2), the FEEDAP Panel considers that the NOAEL of 4.4 mg sodium ferrocyanide/kg bw and day (corresponding to 3 mg ferrocyanide ion/kg bw per day) in the chronic (2‐year) toxicity study in rats is the appropriate value to calculate the safe level in feed for the target species. The NOAEL for ferrocyanide anion was used to calculate the maximum safe dose for the different target species as per guidance. From the values obtained the maximum safe levels for the feed material containing the additive were calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Maximum safe concentration of ferrocyanide anion in complete feed and of ferrocyanide‐supplemented KCl for different target animals

Animal category Default values Maximum safe concentration in complete feed (1) Proposed maximum KCl supplementation in complete feed (%) Margin of safety (2)
Body weight (kg) Feed intake (g DM per day) ferrocyanide (mg/kg) KCl (%)
Chicken for fattening 2 158 0.33 0.22 0.38 None
Laying hen 2 106 0.50 0.33 0.36 None
Turkey for fattening 3 176 0.45 0.30 0.32 None
Piglet 20 880 0.60 0.40 0.48 None
Pig for fattening 60 2,200 0.72 0.48 0.36 1.3
Sow lactating 175 5,280 0.88 0.58 0.38 1.5
Veal calf (milk replacer) 100 1,890 1.40 1.00 1.16 None
Cattle for fattening 400 8,000 1.32 0.88 1.73 None
Dairy cow 650 20,000 0.86 0.57 1.01 None
Sheep 60 1,200 1.32 0.88 0.76 1.2
Goat 60 1,200 1.32 0.88 0.82 1.1
Horse 400 8,000 1.32 0.88 1.18 None
Rabbit 2 100 0.53 0.35 1.14 None
Salmon 0.12 2.1 1.51 1.01 0.86 1.2
Dog 15 250 1.58 1.06 0.97 1.2
Cat 3 60 1.32 0.88 1.33 None
Ornamental fish 0.012 0.054 5.87 3.91
(1)

: Complete feed dry matter (DM) = 88%, milk replacer DM = 94.5%.

(2)

: Margin of safety calculated as the ratio between the proposed maximum KCl supplementation and the maximum safe KCl (containing the additive) level in complete feed.

The maximum safe level of ferrocyanide ions from potassium ferrocyanide in complete feed corresponds to: 0.45 mg/kg for turkey for fattening; 0.33 mg/kg chickens for fattening and other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding; 0.50 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/breeding birds; 0.60 mg/kg for piglets; 0.72 mg/kg for pigs for fattening and minor porcine species for fattening; 0.88 mg/kg for sows and minor porcine species for reproduction/breeding; 1.40 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer); 0.86 mg/kg for dairy cows and other dairy ruminants (except for sheep/goats); 1.32 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and other ruminants for fattening or for rearing, sheep/goats and horses; 0.53 mg/kg for rabbits; 1.51 mg/kg for salmonids and other fin fish; 1.58 mg/kg for dogs; 1.32 mg/kg for cats and 5.87 mg/kg for ornamental fish.

The maximum safe level of potassium chloride containing the additive requires comparison with the levels of KCl used in the diets in order to establish a margin of safety. To this aim, the applicant was requested to provide practical data on the inclusion level of KCl in complete feeds. The applicant submitted several publications concerning requirements/ allowances/recommendations of K for the relevant animal species/categories listed in the FEEDAP guidance on the safety of the feed additive for the target species (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017a,b,c) and proposed to assume that all the required K is supplemented by KCl, notwithstanding the contribution from the natural K‐content of feed materials. The FEEDAP Panel considered this proposal as a reasonable and conservative estimate of KCl addition to complete feed. The data sources including the conversion of the different K‐dimensions used in the publications to a KCl concentration in complete feed are listed in the Appendix A (Table A.1), and the proposed maximum KCl supplementation levels are reported in Table 1.

Table A.1.

Potassium‐requirements/allowances/recommendations for target species

Target species Source Data‐type Dimension K requirement K (%) in complete feed (1) KCl (%) in complete feed
Chicken for fattening NRC (1994) Requirements % complete feed (90% DM (2) ) 0.20 0.20 0.38
Laying hen 0.19 0.19 0.36
Turkey for fattening 0.17 0.17 0.32
Piglet NRC (2012) Requirements % complete feed (90% DM) 0.26 0.25 0.48
Pig for fattening 0.19 0.19 0.36
Sow 0.20 0.20 0.38
Calf (milk replacer) NRC (2001) Recommendation % in DM 0.65 0.61 1.16
Dairy cow NRC (2001) Requirements derived from model diets % in DM 1.03 0.91 1.73
Cattle for fattening NRC (2016) Requirements % in DM 0.60 0.53 1.01
Sheep NRC (2007) Requirements % in DM 0.45 0.40 0.76
Goat 0.49 0.43 0.82
Horse, work FND (2016) Exemplary ration g/day 62 0.62 1.18
Rabbit NRC (1977) Adequate level % in diet 0.6 0.6 1.14
Salmonids Philip et al. (2022) Trouw premix composition % in diet 0.45 0.45 0.86
Dog FEDIAF (2019) Recommendation g/100 g DM 0,58 0.51 0.97
Cat 0,80 0.70 1.33
(1)

: Complete feed with 88% DM (milk replacer 94.5%).

(2)

: DM: dry matter.

When considering (i) the proposed conditions of use (150 mg ferrocyanide anions/kg potassium chloride), (ii) the default values used in Table 1 and (iii) the conservative assumption provided by the applicant on high potassium chloride salt supplementation of complete feed, the margin of safety denotes that the use of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide is safe for: pigs for fattening and lactating sows, sheep, goats, salmon and dogs. In the absence of a margin of safety, the use of potassium chloride according to the proposed conditions of use is not considered to be safe for chickens for fattening, laying hens, turkeys, piglets, veal calf, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, horse, rabbit and cats. In the absence of information on the use of potassium chloride in the diets for any other animal species, no conclusion on a potentially safe level of potassium chloride, supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg, can be made.

The FEEDAP Panel notes that the above assessment is based on the assumption that potassium chloride is the only dietary source of ferrocyanide anions, since safety estimate for maximum content of supplemented potassium chloride is derived from the ferrocyanide safety. Any other source of ferrocyanide would reduce the margin of safety given for the use of supplemented potassium chloride in the different animal species/categories. The only figure which is independent from the use of any other feed material containing or supplemented with ferrocyanide is the maximum dietary concentration of ferrocyanide in complete feed.

3.2.3.1. Conclusions on the safety for the target species

The maximum safe concentration of ferrocyanide ions from potassium ferrocyanide in complete feed corresponds to: 0.45 mg/kg for turkey for fattening; 0.33 mg/kg chickens for fattening and other poultry species for fattening or reared for laying/breeding; 0.50 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/breeding birds; 0.60 mg/kg for piglets; 0.72 mg/kg for pigs for fattening and minor porcine species for fattening; 0.88 mg/kg for sows and minor porcine species for reproduction/breeding; 1.40 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer); 0.86 mg/kg for dairy cows and other dairy ruminants (except for sheep/goats); 1.32 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and other ruminants for fattening or for rearing, sheep/goats and horses; 0.53 mg/kg for rabbits; 1.51 mg/kg for salmonids and other fin fish, 1.58 mg/kg for dogs; 1.32 mg/kg for cats and 5.87 mg/kg for ornamental fish.

The use of potassium ferrocyanide is safe, when added to potassium chloride at a maximum content of 150 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg for: pigs for fattening and lactating sows, sheep, goats, salmon and dogs.

In the absence of a margin of safety, the use of potassium chloride according to the proposed conditions of use is not considered to be safe for chickens for fattening, laying hens, turkeys, piglets, veal calf, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, horse, rabbit and cats. In the absence of information on the use of potassium chloride in the diets for any other animal species, no conclusion on a potentially safe level of potassium chloride, supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg, can be made.

3.2.4. Safety for the consumer

3.2.4.1. Assessment of consumer exposure and consumer safety

No residue data in tissues and products resulting from the use of potassium ferrocyanide incorporated in KCl in the target species were submitted by the applicant.

The applicant proposed instead to estimate consumer exposure on the basis of a theoretical worst‐case model applied to dairy cows, the only target species for which ADME data are known for a similar additive (AFCF, see Section 3.2.1). The study of Arnaud et al. (1988) showed that ferrocyanide did not accumulate in edible tissues (e.g. liver and muscle) of dairy cows and that the small amount absorbed could be found in urine and milk. Consequently, it appears reasonable to base a consumer exposure model on the intake of cow's milk as the only source of ferrocyanide applying highly conservative uncertainties factors (UFs) at the different steps of the calculation. The FEEDAP Panel agreed to this proposal.

Default settings of the model were (i) ferrocyanide is considered as the residue of concern, since the ADI is related to that anion of the salts under assessment, (ii) all ingested ferrocyanide is absorbed in the intestine and fully bioavailable (from the available information, less than 10% of the ingested ferrocyanides are absorbed (see Section 3.2.1), (iii) 10% of the ingested ferrocyanide is excreted unchanged via milk (published data on ferrocyanides show excretion of ferric ammonium hexacyanoferrate via milk of less than 0.1% of the total dose administered) (see Section 3.2.1). The FEEDAP Panel considered the proposal of the applicant as acceptable. However, the Panel considered that to have a realistic estimate of the consumer exposure, data on the intake of dairy cows of ferrocyanide ions from the supplemented KCl would be necessary. At the proposed conditions of use (KCl 1.01% complete feed (see Table 1)), the additive is not considered to be safe for dairy cows (see Section 3.2.3). Therefore, for consumer exposure, the highest calculated safe level of KCl in complete feed (0.57%) for dairy cows (see Table 1), instead, is used.

The FEEDAP Panel added other proposals by settings default values for (iv) maximum safe level in feed of KCl supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg salt is 0.57% KCl in complete feed and (v) feed intake data and milk yield of dairy cows are based on equations derived from feeding studies with individual cows (assumptions: Simmental, 2nd lactation, 670 kg bw, 160 days in milk, 6.2 MJ NEL/kg forage DM, concentrate 6.7 MJ NEL/kg). 14

The calculations were made considering the above settings for milk yields between 20 and 36 L/cow/day, corresponding to a dry matter intake of 16.7 to 23.3 kg/cow/day, and assuming that 10% of ingested ferrocyanide is excreted via milk (calculations reported in Appendix B). The highest concentration of ferrocyanide in milk (0.071 mg/L) resulted from cows with the lowest performance (20 L milk/day, 16.7 kg dry matter intake).

The FEEDAP Panel performed an exposure assessment following the methodology described in the Guidance on consumer safety (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2017a,b,c) (Appendix C), using the estimated residue data in milk from dairy cows.

The exposure of the consumer to ferrocyanide was calculated on the basis of the highest reliable percentile (HRP) of food consumption (raw agricultural food commodities), expressed in mg/kg bw per day for the different population categories and compared with the ADI established by EFSA ANS Panel (2018)). The highest concentration of ferrocyanide in milk of dairy cows (0.081 mg/L) was used to estimate the exposure of the consumer.

The results of the dietary exposure to ferrocyanide for the different population categories are reported in Table 2.

Table 2.

Chronic human dietary exposure to ferrocyanide anion from milk of dairy cows fed with the additive potassium ferrocyanide. Maximum highest reliable percentile expressed in mg/kg bw per day

Population class Number of surveys Maximum highest reliable percentile % ADI*
Infants 6 0.0101 34
Toddlers 10 0.0099 33
Other children 18 0.0130 43
Adolescents 17 0.0048 16
Adults 17 0.0027 9
Elderly 14 0.0023 8
Very elderly 12 0.0026 9
*

: ADI: Acceptable daily intake: 0.03 mg/kg body weight and day.

The calculated exposure resulted in values (maximum HRP) between 0.0023 and 0.0130 mg (kg bw per day for the different population classes, which corresponds to 8 and 43% of the ADI (0.03 mg ferrocyanide anion/kg bw (EFSA ANS Panel, 2018)). The highest exposure, with a maximum HRP of 0.0130 mg/kg bw per day, was observed for ‘other children’, the maximum HRP for adults was 0.0027 mg/kg bw per day.

The FEEDAP Panel notes that potassium ferrocyanide, as well as sodium ferrocyanide, are currently authorised for use in sodium chloride at a maximum inclusion level of 80 mg ferrocyanide anion/kg salt. It is noted that the safety of the use of sodium chloride and potassium chloride both supplemented with ferrocyanides at the maximum authorised or maximum recommended level was not assessed in the current evaluation.

In this context, it is noted that potassium ferrocyanide can also be used as food additive. The EFSA ANS Panel (2018)) estimated the exposure to ferrocyanides resulting from its use in food. The highest exposure to ferrocyanides (calculated based on regulatory maximum permitted level) was up to 0.009 mg/kg bw per day in children and adolescents. The ANS Panel considered that the uncertainties identified indicate an overestimation of the exposure to ferrocyanides. The exposure of consumers to ferrocyanides from the simultaneous use of potassium ferrocyanide as food and feed additives would not exceed the ADI.

3.2.4.2. Conclusions on the safety for the consumer

The FEEDAP Panel concludes that the use of the feed additive potassium ferrocyanide in incorporated in potassium chloride (providing a maximum of 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg KCl) does not raise concerns on the safety for the consumers.

3.2.5. Safety for the user

No specific information on the inhalation toxicity of potassium ferrocyanide was provided. The dusting potential of potassium ferrocyanide (237 mg/m3) makes exposure by inhalation likely.

The highest nickel content analysed in the additive was 2 mg/kg. The dusting potential of the product was 237 mg/m3, corresponding to about 0.0005 mg Ni/m3. This value would not exceed the transitional limit value of 0.1 mg Ni/m3 for the inhalable fraction and 8 h time‐weighted average (8 h TWA) exposure established in Directive (EU) 2022/431. 15 However, due to the presence of nickel, the additive should be considered as a respiratory and dermal sensitiser.

To test the irritation potential to skin and eye and the skin sensitisation potential, the applicant has submitted studies done with sodium ferrocyanide.

The skin irritation potential of sodium ferrocyanide was tested in a study performed according to the OECD Guideline 404, which showed that it is not a skin irritant. 16

The eye irritation potential of sodium ferrocyanide was tested in a study performed according to OECD Guideline 405, which showed that it is not a skin irritant. 17

A local lymph node assay was performed to assess the skin sensitisation potential of sodium ferrocyanide, in line with the OECD Guideline 429 18 and the Method B42 Skin sensitization of Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008. 19 The results showed that sodium ferrocyanide is not a skin sensitiser.

The FEEDAP Panel notes that, since (i) the sodium salt and the potassium salt of ferrocyanide will dissociate to sodium and potassium ions and ferrocyanide anions when in contact with water, (ii) the additive has a high purity and (iii) that the toxicity of sodium and potassium ferrocyanide could be attributed to the ferrocyanide anion only, the FEEDAP Panel considered that the results of the above studies obtained with sodium ferrocyanide could be used to conclude also on the safety of potassium ferrocyanide.

3.2.5.1. Conclusions on safety for the user

In vivo studies showed that potassium ferrocyanide is not irritant to skin and eye and is not a skin sensitiser. However, due to the presence of nickel, the additive should be considered as a respiratory and dermal sensitiser.

3.2.6. Safety for the environment

To assess the safety for the ferrocyanide ions for the environment, the maximum proposed inclusion levels in the diets of potassium chloride (see Table 1), supplemented with the maximum content of 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg KCl, should be used. However, at the proposed conditions of use (see Table 1), the additive is not considered to be safe for the majority of the target species. Therefore, for pigs for fattening and lactating sows, sheep, goats, and salmon, the proposed maximum KCl supplementation in complete feed is used, while for the other species (for which the proposed use level is not considered safe), the highest calculated safe level of KCl in complete feed (see Table 1) is used as a worst case scenario to calculate the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) of ferrocyanide in the different environmental compartments, in line with the FEEDAP Guidance on the evaluation of the safety of feed additives for the environment (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2019).

The use of the additive under these conditions results in concentrations of ferrocyanide in soil above the trigger value of 10 μg/kg for most of the terrestrial target species. The predicted environmental concentration in freshwater is below the trigger value and considered safe for land‐based aquaculture. For marine aquaculture, the PEC sediment is above the trigger value.

The available data do not allow the FEEDAP Panel to conclude on the safety of the additive for the soil and the marine environment, while the use of the additive in land‐based aquaculture according to the proposed conditions of use is considered of no concern.

3.3. Efficacy

Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a food additive as an anticaking agent in salt and salt substitutes. It is reasonable to expect that the effect seen in food will be observed in feed when this additive is used in potassium chloride used in animal nutrition.

The applicant provided an in vitro test, ■■■■■ 20 ■■■■■ The results showed a dose dependent effect in improving flowability, which supports the above assumption.

4. Conclusions

The use of potassium ferrocyanide is safe, when added to potassium chloride at a maximum content of 150 mg ferrocyanide anions (anhydrous)/kg for: pigs for fattening and lactating sows, sheep, goats, salmon and dogs.

In the absence of a margin of safety, the use of potassium chloride according to the proposed conditions of use is not considered to be safe for chickens for fattening, laying hens, turkeys, piglets, veal calf, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, horse, rabbit and cats. In the absence of information on the use of potassium chloride in the diets for any other animal species, no conclusion on a potentially safe level of potassium chloride, supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide/kg, can be made.

The use of potassium ferrocyanide in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety.

The results of in vivo studies showed that potassium ferrocyanide is not irritant to skin and eye and is not a skin sensitiser. However, due to the presence of nickel, the additive should be considered as a respiratory and dermal sensitiser.

The available data do not allow the FEEDAP Panel to conclude on the safety of the additive for the soil and the marine environment, while the use of the additive in land‐based aquaculture according to the proposed conditions of use is considered of no concern.

Potassium ferrocyanide is considered to be efficacious as an anticaking agent when included in potassium chloride at the proposed use levels.

Abbreviations

ADI

acceptable daily intake

AFC

EFSA Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food

ANS

EFSA Scientific Panel on Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food

BW

body weight

CD

Commission Decision

DM

dry matter

ECHA

European Chemicals Agency

EINECS

European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances

EMA

European Medicines Agency

EURL

European Union Reference Laboratory

FAO

Food Agricultural Organization

FEEDAP

EFSA Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed

FFAC

Feed Flavourings authorisation Consortium of FEFANA (EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures)

FLAVIS

The EU Flavour Information System

JECFA

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

LOQ

limit of quantification

MW

molecular weight

NOAEL

no observed adverse effect level

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development

Appendix A – Potassium chloride supplementation in complete feedingstuffs

1.

FEDIAF, 2019. Nutritional Guidelines for complete and complementary pet food for cats and dogs, 2019. Available online: https://oehtv.at/fileadmin/pdfDateien/2019_FEDIAF_Nutritional_Guidelines.pdf

FND (Federatie Nederlandse Diervoederketen), 2016. Tabellenboek Veevoeding 2016. CVB‐reeks nr. 55. Wageningen, 2016.

NRC (National Research Council), 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry: Ninth Revised Edition, 1994. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

NRC (National Research Council), 1977. Nutrient Requirements of Rabbits: Second Revised Edition, 1977. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

NRC (National Research Council), 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

NRC (National Research Council), 2007. Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants: Sheep, Goats, Cervids, and New World Camelids. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

NRC (National Research Council), 2012. Nutrient Requirements of Swine: Eleventh Revised Edition. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

NRC (National Research Council), 2016. National Research Council, Committee on Animal Nutrition: Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, eighth revised edition, 2016. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

Prabhu Philip AJ, Fjelldal PG, Remø SC, Selvam C, Hamre K, Espe M, Holen E, Skjærven KH, Vikså V, Subramanian S, Schrama JW and Sissener NH, 2022. Dietary electrolyte balance of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) freshwater feeds: impact on osmoregulation, mineral metabolism and performance in seawater, Aquaculture, 546, 737305.

Appendix B – Calculated ferrocyanide content in milk

1.

Table B.1: Ferrocyanide anion (FC) intake and content in milk of dairy cows at different yielding stages when fed complete feed containing 0.57% KCl, supplemented with 150 mg ferrocyanide from potassium ferrocyanide, with the assumption that 10% of ingested FC is excreted via milk

FC in KCl (mg/kg) KCl in feed (g/kg) DM intake (kg/day) Feed intake (kg/day) KCl intake (g/day) FC intake (mg/day) Milk yield (L/day) FC in milk (mg/L)
150 5.7 16.7 19.0 108 16.2 20 0.081
150 5.7 18.6 21.1 120 18.0 24 0.075
150 5.7 20.5 23.3 133 19.9 28 0.071
150 5.7 22.4 25.5 145 21.8 32 0.068
150 5.7 23.3 27.6 157 23.6 36 0.066

Appendix C – Detailed results of chronic exposure calculation

1.

Table C.1: Chronic dietary exposure of consumers to residues of ferrocyanide anion per population class, country and survey (mg/kg body weight per day) based on residue data

Population class Survey's country Number of subjects Highest Reliable Percentile value Highest Reliable Percentile description
Infants Bulgaria 523 0.01005 95th
Infants Germany 142 0.00547 95th
Infants Denmark 799 0.00770 95th
Infants Finland 427 0.00629 95th
Infants Italy 9 0.00266 50th
Infants United Kingdom 1,251 0.00480 95th
Toddlers Belgium 36 0.00832 90th
Toddlers Bulgaria 428 0.00801 95th
Toddlers Germany 348 0.00780 95th
Toddlers Denmark 917 0.00836 95th
Toddlers Spain 17 0.00469 75th
Toddlers Finland 500 0.00991 95th
Toddlers Italy 36 0.00624 90th
Toddlers Netherlands 322 0.00730 95th
Toddlers United Kingdom 1,314 0.00810 95th
Toddlers United Kingdom 185 0.00786 95th
Other children Austria 128 0.01304 95th
Other children Belgium 625 0.00724 95th
Other children Bulgaria 433 0.00644 95th
Other children Germany 293 0.00649 95th
Other children Germany 835 0.00466 95th
Other children Denmark 298 0.00624 95th
Other children Spain 399 0.00475 95th
Other children Spain 156 0.00513 95th
Other children Finland 750 0.00714 95th
Other children France 482 0.00663 95th
Other children Greece 838 0.00648 95th
Other children Italy 193 0.00507 95th
Other children Latvia 187 0.00467 95th
Other children Netherlands 957 0.00594 95th
Other children Netherlands 447 0.00489 95th
Other children Sweden 1,473 0.00574 95th
Other children Czechia 389 0.00719 95th
Other children United Kingdom 651 0.00508 95th
Adolescents Austria 237 0.00347 95th
Adolescents Belgium 576 0.00255 95th
Adolescents Cyprus 303 0.00211 95th
Adolescents Germany 393 0.00344 95th
Adolescents Germany 1,011 0.00260 95th
Adolescents Denmark 377 0.00299 95th
Adolescents Spain 651 0.00262 95th
Adolescents Spain 209 0.00291 95th
Adolescents Spain 86 0.00207 95th
Adolescents Finland 306 0.00342 95th
Adolescents France 973 0.00338 95th
Adolescents Italy 247 0.00290 95th
Adolescents Latvia 453 0.00304 95th
Adolescents Netherlands 1,142 0.00315 95th
Adolescents Sweden 1,018 0.00344 95th
Adolescents Czechia 298 0.00475 95th
Adolescents United Kingdom 666 0.00243 95th
Adults Austria 308 0.00245 95th
Adults Belgium 1,292 0.00219 95th
Adults Germany 10,419 0.00228 95th
Adults Denmark 1,739 0.00198 95th
Adults Spain 981 0.00204 95th
Adults Spain 410 0.00203 95th
Adults Finland 1,295 0.00265 95th
Adults France 2,276 0.00223 95th
Adults Hungary 1,074 0.00175 95th
Adults Ireland 1,274 0.00172 95th
Adults Italy 2,313 0.00181 95th
Adults Latvia 1,271 0.00189 95th
Adults Netherlands 2,055 0.00218 95th
Adults Romania 1,254 0.00159 95th
Adults Sweden 1,430 0.00202 95th
Adults Czechia 1,666 0.00229 95th
Adults United Kingdom 1,265 0.00165 95th
Elderly Austria 67 0.00177 95th
Elderly Belgium 511 0.00235 95th
Elderly Germany 2,006 0.00217 95th
Elderly Denmark 274 0.00193 95th
Elderly Finland 413 0.00228 95th
Elderly France 264 0.00190 95th
Elderly Hungary 206 0.00173 95th
Elderly Ireland 149 0.00200 95th
Elderly Italy 289 0.00155 95th
Elderly Netherlands 173 0.00200 95th
Elderly Netherlands 289 0.00191 95th
Elderly Romania 83 0.00132 95th
Elderly Sweden 295 0.00200 95th
Elderly United Kingdom 166 0.00182 95th
Very elderly Austria 25 0.00129 75th
Very elderly Belgium 704 0.00265 95th
Very elderly Germany 490 0.00233 95th
Very elderly Denmark 12 0.00120 75th
Very elderly France 84 0.00179 95th
Very elderly Hungary 80 0.00205 95th
Very elderly Ireland 77 0.00175 95th
Very elderly Italy 228 0.00170 95th
Very elderly Netherlands 450 0.00198 95th
Very elderly Romania 45 0.00141 90th
Very elderly Sweden 72 0.00232 95th
Very elderly United Kingdom 139 0.00214 95th

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, Durjava M, Kouba M, López‐Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M, Ramos F, Sanz Y, Villa RE, Woutersen R, Aquilina G, Bories G, Nebbia C, Gropp J, Galobart J, Vettori MV, Anguita M, Ortuño Casanova J, Amaduzzi A and Innocenti ML, 2023. Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of potassium ferrocyanide for all animal species (K + S KALI GmbH). EFSA Journal 2023;21(6):7953, 19 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7953

Requestor: European Commission

Question number: EFSA‐Q‐2013‐00529

Panel members: Vasileios Bampidis, Giovanna Azimonti, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Henrik Christensen, Birgit Dusemund, Mojca Durjava, Maryline Kouba, Marta López‐Alonso, Secundino López Puente, Francesca Marcon, Baltasar Mayo, Alena Pechová, Mariana Petkova, Fernando Ramos, Yolanda Sanz, Roberto Edoardo Villa and Ruud Woutersen.

Legal notice: Relevant information or parts of this scientific output have been blackened in accordance with the European Commission decision on the confidentiality requests formulated by the applicant and further confidentiality requests formulated by the applicant for which a decision by the European Commission is pending. The blackened text will be subject to review once the full decision on the confidentiality requests is adopted by the European Commission. The full output was shared with the European Commission, EU Member States and the applicant.

Declarations of interest: If you wish to access the declaration of interests of any expert contributing to an EFSA scientific assessment, please contact interestmanagement@efsa.europa.eu.

EFSA may include images or other content for which it does not hold copyright. In such cases, EFSA indicates the copyright holder and users should seek permission to reproduce the content from the original source.

*

This output replaces the previously adopted version, more detailed information available at the following link: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2023-05/feedap_230511-12_m_Adopted.pdf

Adopted: 11 May 2023

Notes

1

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the council of 22 September 2003 on the additives for use in animal nutrition. OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29.

2

K + S KALI GmbH, Bertha‐von‐Suttner‐Straße, 7, 34131, Kassel, Germany.

3

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1810/2005 of 4 November 2005 concerning a new authorisation for 10 years of an additive in feedingstuffs, the permanent authorisation of certain additives in feedingstuffs and the provisional authorisation of new uses of certain additives already authorised in feedingstuffs. OJ L291, 5.11.2005, p. 5.

4

Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives. OJ L 354, 31.12.2008, p. 16.

5

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. 1–295.

6

FEED dossier reference: FAD‐2013‐0016.

7

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.

8

Technical dossier/Supplementary Information_Aug_2014/CoA Batch no. 11588, CoA Batch no. 14289, CoA Batch no. 16361, CoA Batch no. 20130731, CoA Batch no. 20140218.

9

‘<’ refers to the limit of quantification (LOQ).

10

Technical dossier/Supplementary Information_Feb_2015/A 7828–14 engl_analysis report dusting potential and Ldf_7January2015_Dusting potential g‐m3.

11

Technical dossier/confidential parts 061113/Annex_II_3_AnalRep111870‐2.

12

Technical dossier/FAD‐2011‐0047_FAD‐2011‐0048_FAD‐2013‐0016_SIn_Oct18/Sin_Na_K_FCN_18–06‐12.docx.

13

Technical dossier/FAD‐2011‐2013‐0016_Supplementary Information September 2021/Annex_SIn_ELS_Ferrocyanide_21–08‐25.

14

Futteraufnahme bei der Milchkuh, Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (2006). https://www.lfl.bayern.de/mam/cms07/ite/dateien/zuteilungstabellen_fleckvieh_braunvieh.pdf

15

Directive (EU) 2022/431 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2022 amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work. OJ L 88, 16.3.2022, p. 1–14.

16

Technical dossier/ FAD‐2013‐0016 Supplementary Information September 2022/Annex_SIN_2–3.

17

Technical dossier/ FAD‐2013‐0016 Supplementary Information September 2022/Annex_SIN_2–4.

18

Technical dossier/ FAD‐2013‐0016_SIn_Oct18/Annex_SIN_3–3.

20

Technical dossier/Section IV/Annex IV_1_ ■■■■■

References

  1. Arnaud MM, Clement C, Getaz F, Tannhauser F, Schoenegge R, Blum J and Giese W, 1988. Synthesis, effectiveness, and metabolic fate in cows of the caesium complexing compound ammonium‐ferrichexacyanoferrate labelled with 14C. Journal of Dairy Research, 55, 1–13. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. EFSA ANS Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food) , Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, Crebelli R, Dusemund B, Filipič M, Frutos MJ, Galtier P, Gott D, Gundert‐Remy U, Kuhnle GG, Lambré C, Leblanc J‐C, Lillegaard IT, Moldeus P, Mortensen A, Oskarsson A, Stankovic I, Waalkens‐Berendsen I, Wright M, Di Domenico A, Van Loveren H, Giarola A, Horvath Z, Lodi F and Woutersen RA, 2018. Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of sodium ferrocyanide (E 535), potassium ferrocyanide (E 536) and calcium ferrocyanide (E 538) as food additives. EFSA Journal 2018;16(7):5374, 26 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5374 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , 2012. Guidance on studies concerning the safety of use of the additive for users/workers. EFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2539, 5 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2539 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  4. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , Rychen G, Aquilina G, Azimonti G, Bampidis V, Bastos ML, Bories G, Chesson A, Cocconcelli PS, Flachowsky G, Gropp J, Kolar B, Kouba M, Lopez‐Alonso M, Lopez Puente S, Mantovani A, Mayo B, Ramos F, Saarela M, Villa RE, Wallace RJ, Wester P, Anguita M, Galobart J and Innocenti ML, 2017a. Guidance on the identity, characterisation and conditions of use of feed additives. EFSA Journal 2017;15(10):5023, 24 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5023 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , Rychen G, Aquilina G, Azimonti G, Bampidis V, Bastos ML, Bories G, Chesson A, Cocconcelli PS, Flachowsky G, Gropp J, Kolar B, Kouba M, Lopez‐Alonso M, Lopez Puente S, Mantovani A, Mayo B, Ramos F, Saarela M, Villa RE, Wallace RJ, Wester P, Anguita M, Dujardin B, Galobart J and Innocenti ML, 2017b. Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the consumer. EFSA Journal 2017;15(10):5022, 17 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5022 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  6. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , Rychen G, Aquilina G, Azimonti G, Bampidis V, Bastos ML, Bories G, Chesson A, Cocconcelli PS, Flachowsky G, Gropp J, Kolar B, Kouba M, López‐Alonso M, López Puente S, Mantovani A, Mayo B, Ramos F, Saarela M, Villa RE, Wallace RJ, Wester P, Anguita M, Galobart J, Innocenti ML and Martino L, 2017c. Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the target species. EFSA Journal 2017;15(10):5021, 19 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5021 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , Rychen G, Aquilina G, Azimonti G, Bampidis V, Bastos ML, Bories G, Chesson A, Cocconcelli PS, Flachowsky G, Gropp J, Kolar B, Kouba M, López‐Alonso M, López Puente S, Mantovani A, Mayo B, Ramos F, Saarela M, Villa RE, Wallace RJ, Wester P, Anguita M, Galobart J, Innocenti ML and Martino L, 2018. Guidance on the assessment of the efficacy of feed additives. EFSA Journal 2018;16(5):5274, 25 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5274 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. EFSA Feedap Panel (EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed) , Bampidis V, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Kouba M, Kos Durjava M, López‐Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M, Ramos F, Sanz Y, Villa RE, Woutersen R, Brock T, Knecht J, Kolar B, Beelen P, Padovani L, Tarrés‐Call J, Vettori MV and Azimonti G, 2019. Guidance on the assessment of the safety of feed additives for the environment. EFSA Journal 2019;17(4):5648, 78 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5648 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. European Commission , 1991. SCF (Scientific Committee for Food), Reports from the Scientific Committee for Food (25th series) Opinion expressed 1990. Food ‐ science and techniques.
  10. European Commission , 2001. Opinion of the Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition on the safety of potassium and sodium ferrocyanide used as anticaking agents. Available online: https://food.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2020‐12/sci‐com_scan‐old_report_out70.pdf
  11. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1970a. Toxicological evaluation of some food colours, emulsifier, stabilizers, anti‐caking agents and certain other substances FAO Nutrition Meetings ReportSeries No. 46A. WHO Food Additives Series, 70.36. [PubMed]
  12. JECFA (Thirteenth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1970b. Specifications for the identity and purity of food additives and their toxicological evaluation WHO Technical report series No.445, FAO nutrition meeting report series No. 46.
  13. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1974a. Evaluation of certain food additives WHO Technical report series No. 557, FAO nutrition meeting report series No. 54.
  14. JECFA (Seventeenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1974b. Toxicological evaluation of some foodadditives includind anticaking agents, antimicrobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers and thickening agents WHOFood Additives Series NO. 5. [PubMed]
  15. JECFA (Eighteenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1974c. Toxicologicalevaluation of certain food additives with a review of general principles and of specifications WHO Technicalreport series No. 539, FAO nutrition meeting report series No. 53.
  16. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1975. Toxicological evaluation of some food colours, enzymes, flavour enhancers, thickening agents, and certain food additives. WHO Food Additives Series NO. 6. [PubMed]
  17. Nielsen P, Dresow B, Fischer R and Heinrich HC, 1990a. Bioavailability of iron and cyanide from 59Fe‐ and 14C‐labelled hexacyanoferrates(II) in rats. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C, 45, 681–690. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Nielsen P, Dresow B, Fischer R and Heinrich HC, 1990b. Bioavailability of iron and cyanide from oral potassiumferric hexacyanoferrate(II) in humans. Archives of Toxicology, 64, 420–422. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from EFSA Journal are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES