The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has sought additional time to complete a new scientific opinion on Bovaer.

Earlier this year, the ESFA launched a review into the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), which is sold as Bovaer, in dairy cows and cows for breeding.

In December, the European Commission asked the EFSA to provide the scientific opinion on the safety of the methane reducing feed ingredient.

The request followed reports from some farmers in Denmark that their cow's health and milk output had been impacted after using Bovaer.

Since January 1, 2025, all conventional dairy farmers in Denmark with more than 50 cows are required to reduce methane emissions by adjusting their feed.

In order to achieve this, a farmer must either increase the fat content in their cows’ diet throughout the year or add Bovaer, a methane-reducing additive, to the feed for 80 days a year.

The move is part of the Danish government's plan to reduce the environmental impact from agriculture.

Bovaer

The scientific opinion had originally been scheduled to be published by today (June 30, 2026).

However, a spokesperson for the ESFA has confirmed to Agriland that the authority has requested an extension from the European Commission for its assessment.

"The scientific opinion is now expected to be published by the end of 2026.

"Between February 3 and April 10, 2026, EFSA received over 70 contributions, many of which include detailed scientific and technical information that must be carefully assessed and validated," the EFSA spokesperson added.

Opinion

The ESFA previously said that the objective of the scientific opinion is to assess whether Bovaer still meets the conditions set out in European regulations as regards the safety for the target species (dairy cows and cows for reproduction).

In order to "ensure a comprehensive assessment", the authority launched a public call for "all potentially relevant available data", including published, unpublished or newly generated data, on Bovaer from interested parties.

A spokesperson for dsm-firmenich, the company that developed Bovaer, welcomed that the EFSA that it will review the latest scientific data concerning Bovaer.

Bovaer was officially approved for use as a feed additive for dairy cows in 2022. 

"Since then, there has been significant additional research, including more than 55 peer-reviewed, published studies, all of which support the already extensive research previously considered by the EFSA to demonstrate that Bovaer is both safe and effective," the spokesperson added.

Dsm-firmenich said it will make its own submissions to the EFSA process based on the scientific research and its own findings.