January 9, 2013

The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was requested by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of vitamin A as an additive to feed and water for drinking for all animal species.

Vitamin A (retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate) is essential for vision, growth differentiation and proliferation of a wide range of epithelial tissues, bone growth, reproduction and embryonic development. The tolerance data for the target species do not indicate a concern for animal safety considering the maximum values set in EU regulation for food producing animals, and also for pets.

All consumer exposure calculations showed that liver is the only food of animal origin of which the consumption poses a risk to the adult consumers. This risk can be considerably reduced, however not eliminated, if the new levels proposed by EFSA for a reduction of the maximum vitamin A content in feeding stuffs would be respected. The availability of an additional route of administration of vitamin A (e.g., water for drinking) would increase the risk for the consumer.

Retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate are irritants to skin and potential skin sensitisers. Data on respiratory toxicity and on the levels of exposure of workers which would cause systemic or respiratory toxicity are not available. However, inhalation exposure of workers from handling certain formulations is likely. The FEEDAP Panel recommends that protection measures of persons handling the additive against the inhalation exposure should be taken.

The use of vitamin A in animal nutrition up to the maximum contents authorised does not pose a risk to the environment. Retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl propionate are regarded as effective sources of vitamin A.