Safety and efficacy of the feed additives cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate, cobalt(II) carbonate, cobalt(II) carbonate hydroxide (2:3) monohydrate and cobalt(II) sulphate heptahydrate for bovines with a functional rumen, equidae, lagomorphs, rodents, herbivore reptiles, zoo mammals and camelids (Regal B.V.)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate, cobalt(II) carbonate, cobalt(II) carbonate hydroxide (2:3) monohydrate and cobalt(II) sulphate heptahydrate as nutritional feed additives for bovines with a functional rumen, equidae, lagomorphs, rodents, herbivore reptiles and zoo mammals and camelids. The additives are currently authorised in a provisional authorisation. The applicant has provided evidence that, in essence, the additives under assessment comply with the conditions of the authorisation. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) confirms that the use of cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate, cobalt(II) carbonate, cobalt(II) carbonate hydroxide (2:3) monohydrate and cobalt(II) sulphate heptahydrate under the authorised conditions of use are safe for the target species and the environment. The same conclusions can be assumed for the use of the additives in camelids. Due to the lack of adequate deposition data to assess consumer exposure, the FEEDAP Panel is not in the position to conclude on the safety for the consumer. With regard to the safety of users, the additives under assessment should be considered eye and skin irritants and skin and respiratory sensitisers. Any exposure is considered a risk. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that cobalt compounds under assessment are efficacious sources of cobalt in feedingstuffs for bovines with a functional rumen, equidae, lagomorphs, rodents, herbivore reptiles, zoo mammals and camelids.