The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has received a mandate for a scientific opinion on the safety of the feed additive 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) for dairy cows and cows for reproduction.
3-NOP is authorized as a zootechnical feed additive, in the functional group “substances with favorable affect the environment (reduction of enteric methane production).” This request comes after the reporting by the Danish authorities of clinical signs of digestive and metabolic disorders in dairy cows in approximately one-quarter (approximately 400 out of 1,600) of the dairy farms which started using the additive since December 2025.
3-NOP is the active ingredient in Bovaer, which is produced by DSM-Firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health. The company has said the negative effects on Danish dairies did not align with its research or global experience.
The objective of the scientific opinion is to assess whether the authorization of 3-NOP still meets the conditions set out by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 as regards the safety for the target species.
In order to ensure a comprehensive assessment, EFSA has launched a public call for all potentially relevant available data (published, unpublished or newly generated data) from interested parties. EFSA will then consider the relevance of the information provided for the risk assessment. The submission of the requested information is without prejudice to the final opinion of the FEEDAP Panel.
Specific objectives
- Specific Objective 1: Collection of data from dairy farms using 3-NOP. EFSA is looking for data related to the health status and zootechnical performance of dairy cows and cows for reproduction in farms using 3-NOP. The data, collected at farm level, should be preferably related to the periods before the use of the additive, during the use of the additive and, if relevant, after the suspension of the use of the additive.
- Specific Objective 2: Collection of data and/or information related to the use of 3-NOP in ruminants. EFSA is looking for any other data and/or information related to the use of 3-NOP in ruminants. The data/information should ideally be related to the effects of the additive on the health status and the zootechnical performance of ruminants receiving the additive.
Deadline for the submission of data is March 31. There will be a webinar on the call for data on February 26.
