Vitamin E in Feed: What Changes for Manufacturers and Farmers in 2026

Key data

Feed manufacturers and farmers throughout the European Union have a new mandatory regulatory reference: the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2084, published on 21 September 2026, which renews the authorization of vitamin E as an additive in animal feed. The regulation replaces Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1152, which had regulated these authorizations for over ten years.

The renewal is neither automatic nor merely administrative: it involves new authorization conditions backed by the safety and efficacy assessment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and requires the entire feed production chain to review its compliance.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2026/2084 renews the authorization of three specific forms of vitamin E as additives for feed intended for all animal species:

The basis for this renewal is the scientific assessment carried out by EFSA, which has confirmed the suitability and safety of these three forms of vitamin E for continued use in animal feed. At the same time, the regulation expressly repeals Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1152, which until now regulated these authorizations.

This means that any contractual, technical or labeling reference citing Regulation 2015/1152 must be updated to reflect the new legal basis.

Economic and operational impact

Although the renewal confirms the continuity of use of these additives—which avoids disruptions in the supply chain—the regulatory change has concrete operational consequences that should not be underestimated:

• Review of technical sheets and product documentation: Feed manufacturers must update regulatory references in their technical sheets, labels and declarations of conformity, replacing the citation to Regulation 2015/1152 with the new 2026/2084.
• Verification of authorization conditions: The new conditions established by Regulation 2026/2084 may differ in technical nuances from the previous ones. It is necessary to compare both texts to detect any changes in dosage, restrictions or labeling requirements.
• Impact on the distribution chain: Distributors of additives for animal feed must ensure that the products they market comply with the new authorization, especially regarding the specific form of tocopherol used.
• Risk of non-compliance: Continuing to reference the repealed Regulation (2015/1152) in official documentation may generate problems in inspections or regulatory compliance audits.

From a positive perspective, the renewal guarantees the continuity of supply of these essential additives for animal nutrition, avoiding the uncertainty that would have been generated by a non-renewal or a restriction of use.

Who does it affect?

• Compound feed manufacturers: Must update formulations, technical sheets and labeling to reflect the new legal basis.
• Distributors and marketers of feed additives: Required to verify that products with tocopherols they distribute comply with the conditions of Regulation 2026/2084.
• Farmers who produce their own feed: If they incorporate vitamin E as an additive in their mixtures, they must ensure that the additives they purchase are authorized under the new regulation.
• Quality and regulatory compliance managers in companies in the sector: Need to update their document management and traceability systems.
• Advisors and consultants in the agricultural sector: Must inform their clients of the change in regulatory reference and its practical implications.

Practical example

A pig feed manufacturing company that uses alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant additive in its formulations currently has in its technical documentation and labels the reference to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1152.

Following the publication of Regulation 2026/2084, this company must:

1. Update all product technical sheets to cite the new Regulation 2026/2084 as the legal basis for authorization.
2. Review whether the conditions of use of alpha-tocopherol have changed compared to those established in Regulation 2015/1152 (maximum doses, restrictions by species, labeling requirements).
3. Communicate the change to its farmer clients if they need to update their own traceability documentation.

If the company does not carry out this update and is subject to an inspection by the competent authority, it could face non-compliance observations for referencing a repealed regulation, with the consequent reputational and operational risk.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which products contain the three authorized tocopherols (tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils, tocopherol-rich extracts from vegetable oils and alpha-tocopherol) to determine the scope of the change in your company.
2. Update technical and commercial documentation that cites Regulation 2015/1152, replacing the reference with the new Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2084.
3. Review the new authorization conditions established in Regulation 2026/2084 and compare them with the previous ones to detect changes in dosage, restrictions or labeling requirements.
4. Communicate the change to suppliers and clients in the value chain that may be affected by the update of the regulatory reference.
5. Update quality management and traceability systems to reflect the new legal basis in internal records and audits.
6. Consult a specialist advisor in animal feed regulations if there are doubts about the interpretation of the new authorization conditions or their practical application.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602084