EU Authorises Xanthan Gum as a Feed Additive for Most Animal Species

The European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/538 on March 11, 2026, authorising xanthan gum produced with specified strains of Xanthomonas campestris as a feed additive for all animal species other than cats, dogs, and aquatic species. The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on March 12, 2026.

The regulation also sets clear transitional arrangements for products manufactured and labelled under the previous rules. Feed additives and premixtures produced before October 1, 2026 may continue to be placed on the market until stocks are exhausted, while compound feed and feed materials for food-producing animals have a transition period until April 1, 2027, and those for non-food-producing animals until April 1, 2028. This update reflects the EU’s continued refinement of feed additive authorisation, labeling, and market access requirements.

Source

Official Journal of the European Union