Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 10415 (formerly E. faecium) as a silage additive: plating on bile esculin azide agar according to EN 15788, PFGE according to CEN/TS 17697, 1 × 10⁸ CFU/kg fresh material
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1037, published on 8 May 2026, authorises until 28 May 2036 a preparation of Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 10415 (at least 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g) as a silage additive for all animal species and all types of plant material, at a dose of at least 1 × 10⁸ CFU/kg fresh material. The strain was previously authorised as additive 1k20601 under the name Enterococcus faecium.
- Methods: identification — pulsed-field gel electrophoresis PFGE (CEN/TS 17697) or DNA sequencing; enumeration in the additive — spread plate (or pour plate) on bile esculin azide agar (EN 15788).
- EFSA data: in 5 batches 4.5–6.6 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g; in 3 batches arsenic < 0.0067, mercury < 0.0017 and lead < 0.0050 mg/kg; the microbiological tests also covered Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 1 g) and Staphylococcus aureus (in 0.1 g) — not detected; dusting potential 1.25–17.50 mg/m³; losses < 0.5 log after 24 months at 2–8 °C, coefficient of variation in water 7–13 %. The applicant states no adverse effects during the previous authorisation (2014–2024).
- Efficacy: 3 experiments in 2.9 L mini-silos (10 replicates, at least 90 days, 23 ± 2 °C) with gas release valves and effluent removal — high-moisture maize cobs (DM 63.5 %, easy to ensile), whole-crop maize (33.7 %, moderately difficult) and alfalfa (37.4 %, difficult). In whole-crop maize DM losses fell from 4.07 to 2.10 % and lactic acid rose from 6.91 to 8.63 % DM; in the cobs the difference in DM losses (4.09 vs 3.09 %) was not significant.
- Users: the preparation is an eye irritant and a skin and respiratory sensitiser, any exposure is a risk. The act requires skin, eye and respiratory protection if procedures and organisational measures do not eliminate the risks.