Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Biomin®C3 (<em>Bifidobacterium animalis</em> ssp. <em>animalis</em>, <em>Lactobacillus salivarius</em> ssp. <em>salivarius</em> and <em>Enterococcus faecium</em>) as feed additive for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying and minor avian species other than laying species

Biomin®C3 is a preparation of strains of Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus salivarius. It is currently authorised in the European Union for use in feed for chickens for fattening. Application now has been made for an extension of use to chickens reared for laying and minor avian species other than laying species, for use in water for drinking and for the removal of a maximum dose. A tolerance study using water as the delivery system showed that consumption of 100 times the currently authorised maximum authorised dose in feed did not cause adverse effects in chickens for fattening. Thus, delivery of comparable doses of the additive via water for drinking is considered to be as safe for chickens for fattening as delivery via feed. Inclusion of a dose of 5 × 1012 colony-forming units (CFU)/L in the tolerance study without ill effects indicates that there would be no safety implications if the current maximum dose for chickens for fattening were withdrawn. The conclusions on safety for chickens for fattening, including the need for a maximum dose, would also apply to chickens reared for laying and minor avian species to the point of lay. Biomin®C3 has the potential to improve the performance of chickens for fattening at a minimum dose of 1 × 108< CFU/kg of complete feedingstuffs or the equivalent dose (5 × 107 CFU/L) when delivered in water for drinking. The additive is also considered to have the potential to be efficacious when used in chickens reared for laying and minor avian species to the point of lay at a minimum dose of 1 × 108 CFU/kg of complete feedingstuffs or 5 × 107 CFU/L water for drinking. The additive is compatible with the coccidiostats robenidine hydrochloride, maduramycin ammonium, diclazuril, decoquinate, narasin, nicarbazin and narasin/nicarbazin