Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2261 of 15 December 2016 concerning the authorisation of copper(I) oxide as a feed additive for all animal species (Text with EEA relevance )
Data as of 2026-07-04 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
The substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘nutritional additives’ and to the functional group ‘compounds of trace elements’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
ANNEX Identification number of the additive Name of the holder of authorisation Additive Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical method Species or category of animal Maximum age Minimum content Maximum content Other provisions End of period of authorisation Content of Cu in mg/kg of complete feedingstuff with a moisture content of 12 % Category of nutritional additives. Functional group: compounds of trace elements 3b412 — Copper(I) oxide Characterisation of the additive Preparation of copper(I) oxide with — a minimum copper content of 73 %, — Sodium lignosulfonates between 12 % and 17 %, — 1 % Bentonite. Granulated form with particles < 50 μm: below 10 % Characterisation of the active substance Copper(I) oxide Chemical formula: Cu 2 O CAS number: 1317-39-1 Analytical methods ( 1 ) For the identification of Cu 2 O in the additive: — X-Ray diffraction (XRD). For the quantification of the total copper content in the additive: — Titrimetry; or — Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) — EN 15510. For the quantification of total copper content in premixtures: — Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) — EN 15510; or — Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry after pressure digestion (ICP-AES) — EN 15621. For the quantification of total copper content in feed materials and compound feed: — Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) — Commission Regulation (EC) No 152/2009; or — Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) — EN 15510; or — Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry after pressure digestion (ICP-AES) — EN 15621. All animal species — — Bovines: — Bovines before the start of rumination: 15 (total); — Other bovines: 35 (total). Ovines: 15 (total). Piglets up to 12 weeks: 170 (total). Crustaceans: 50 (total). Other animals: 25 (total). 1. The additive shall be incorporated into feed in the form of a premixture. 2. For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks by inhalation, dermal contact or eyes contact. Where those risks cannot be eliminated or reduced to a minimum level by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal protective equipment, including breathing protection, safety glasses and gloves. 3. The following words shall be included in the labelling: — For feed for sheep if the level of copper in the feed exceeds 10 mg/kg: ‘The level of copper in this feed may cause poisoning in certain breeds of sheep.’ — For feed for bovines after the start of rumination if the level of copper in the feed is less than 20 mg/kg: ‘The level of copper in this feed may cause copper deficiencies in cattle grazing pastures with high contents of molybdenum or sulphur.’ 5 January 2027 ( 1 ) Details of the analytical methods are available at the following address of the Reference Laboratory: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/eurl/feed-additives/evaluation-reports
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