Guanidinoacetic acid in poultry feed: what changes for manufacturers and farms in 2026

Key data

Feed manufacturers and poultry farms working with chickens and turkeys have a new tool available from May 27, 2026: guanidinoacetic acid and a derived preparation are authorized as zootechnical additives in poultry feed. The authorization is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1019, published on May 8, 2026, and is directly applicable throughout the European Union.

The regulation does not require national transposition: it enters into force automatically in Spain and in the rest of the Member States. This means that any operator wishing to incorporate this additive into their formulations can do so from that date, provided they comply with the specific conditions of use, dosage and labeling established by the regulation.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2026/1019 grants formal authorization to guanidinoacetic acid and a guanidinoacetic acid preparation for use as zootechnical additives in feed intended for poultry. The exclusive holder of this authorization is Evonik Operations GmbH.

The five categories of poultry covered by the authorization are:

• Broiler chickens
• Chickens reared for laying
• Chickens reared for breeding
• Broiler turkeys
• Turkeys reared for breeding

The regulation establishes specific conditions in three areas that operators must comply with:

From a technical perspective, guanidinoacetic acid acts as a creatine precursor and improves the productive performance of poultry by optimizing muscle energy metabolism. This translates into better feed conversion and greater muscle development in broiler birds.

Economic and operational impact

The authorization of this additive opens an opportunity for feed manufacturers seeking to improve the productive efficiency of their poultry clients. At the same time, it generates operational obligations that must be managed before the regulation enters into force.

The main operational impacts are:

• Review of formulations: Manufacturers wishing to incorporate guanidinoacetic acid must adapt their formulas respecting the authorized dosages and conditions of use.
• Labeling update: Any feed containing this additive must comply with the specific labeling requirements of the regulation.
• Documentation update: The technical documentation of affected products must reflect the new composition and comply with the authorization requirements.
• Risk of non-compliance: Use of the additive outside authorized conditions may result in sanctions and product withdrawal from the market.

For poultry farms, the impact is mainly indirect: it will depend on whether their feed suppliers decide to incorporate this additive into their formulations. In that case, they will need to verify that the feed received complies with current regulations.

Who does it affect?

• Feed manufacturers that produce or wish to produce feed for broiler chickens, laying chickens, breeding chickens, broiler turkeys or breeding turkeys.
• Poultry farms that use compound feed for the five categories of poultry covered by the authorization.
• Operators in the poultry sector that manage the feed supply chain for poultry in any EU Member State.
• Distributors and marketers of feed additives working with guanidinoacetic acid or derived preparations.
• Quality and regulatory managers in sector companies who must verify compliance with authorization conditions.

Practical example

A Spanish feed manufacturer that supplies broiler chicken farms decides to incorporate guanidinoacetic acid into its product range after the regulation enters into force on May 27, 2026.

To do so correctly, it must:

1. Verify that the additive it acquires comes from Evonik Operations GmbH, the sole authorization holder, or that the preparation meets the specifications of the regulation.
2. Adjust the feed formulation respecting the dosages and conditions of use established in Regulation (EU) 2026/1019.
3. Update the labels on feed bags or containers to reflect the presence of the additive in accordance with the labeling requirements of the regulation.
4. Update the product technical sheet and internal formulation documentation before marketing the new feed.

If it markets the feed with the additive without complying with any of these conditions — for example, with incorrect labeling or with dosages outside authorized limits — it exposes itself to sanctions and product withdrawal from the market.

What should companies do now?

1. Review whether the additive applies to your product range: Identify whether you manufacture or market feed for any of the five categories of poultry covered (broiler chickens, laying chickens, breeding chickens; broiler turkeys and breeding turkeys).
2. Analyze the regulation's conditions of use: Consult the full text of Regulation (EU) 2026/1019 to learn about authorized dosages, conditions of use and applicable labeling requirements before May 27, 2026.
3. Adapt formulations if you decide to incorporate the additive: Adjust feed formulas strictly respecting the authorized inclusion levels.
4. Update labeling of affected products: Ensure that any feed containing guanidinoacetic acid complies with the labeling requirements established in the regulation.
5. Update technical documentation: Review technical sheets, formulation records and regulatory documentation of products incorporating this additive.
6. Verify compliance in the supply chain: Poultry farms must confirm with their suppliers that the feed received complies with current regulations.