The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has renewed its scientific assessment of the feed additive lasalocid A sodium (Avatec® 150G), a coccidiostat used in turkeys, pheasants, guinea fowl, quails and partridges, concluding that the product remains safe for consumers and the environment under existing conditions, but that it could not confirm its safety for the target species or its efficacy in three of the five bird categories. In an opinion adopted on 1 July 2026 and published on 7 August 2026, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) found that the additive, produced by Zoetis Belgium SA, is safe for consumers at the highest proposed level of 125 mg/kg complete feed for turkeys up to 16 weeks of life and for growing pheasants, partridges, quails and guinea fowl, and that a proposed reduction of the withdrawal time to 3 days is also safe. The existing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for poultry tissues—60 μg/kg in muscle, 300 μg/kg in liver and skin/fat, and 150 μg/kg in kidney and eggs—remain protective. However, the Panel was not in a position to conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species, and it could not confirm the coccidiostatic effect in guinea fowl, quails and partridges, while confirming efficacy in turkeys for fattening, turkeys reared for reproduction and pheasants at the minimum use level of 75 mg/kg complete feed. The additive is irritant to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract, and exposure of users by any route is considered a risk, though it is not a dermal sensitiser. The opinion also notes that the use of four antifoaming agents in the manufacturing process could not be assessed for safety due to inadequate data on their identity, composition and toxicology. The assessment follows two renewal applications submitted by Zoetis Belgium SA to the European Commission under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, with the first dossier received on 13 November 2019 and the second on 7 September 2020. The additive is currently authorised for turkeys up to 16 weeks of age and for pheasants, guinea fowl, quails and partridges other than laying birds, as well as for chickens for fattening. The FEEDAP Panel's conclusions build on a series of earlier EFSA opinions on the safety and efficacy of lasalocid A sodium in poultry, including assessments in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2020 and 2022. The European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) confirmed that the analytical methods for controlling the active substance and marker residues remain valid. The opinion will inform the European Commission's decision on whether to renew the authorisation of Avatec® 150G, with the Panel's inability to confirm target-species safety and efficacy in some species potentially leading to revised conditions of use or additional data requirements. The renewal process is part of the EU's routine re-evaluation of feed additives, which aims to ensure that products on the market meet current safety standards. The outcome has direct implications for poultry producers, who rely on coccidiostats to control intestinal parasites, and for the feed industry, which must comply with any changes to authorised use levels or withdrawal periods. For consumers, the confirmation of safe residue levels and the acceptability of a shorter withdrawal time may reduce the time needed between treatment and slaughter, potentially affecting production efficiency. For the applicant, Zoetis, the inability to confirm efficacy in guinea fowl, quails and partridges could require additional studies to maintain the authorisation for those species, while the unresolved safety questions around antifoaming agents may prompt further scrutiny of the manufacturing process. The opinion also underscores the trade-off between ensuring animal health and productivity through the use of ionophore coccidiostats and the need to protect consumer safety and worker health, as well as the environmental impact of feed additives. The FEEDAP Panel's cautious approach reflects the EU's precautionary stance on feed additives, balancing the benefits of disease control against potential risks to human health and the environment.
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