Research and development on engineered gene drives (EGDs) has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven in part by the advent of CRISPR‐Cas9 genome editing technologies. Much of this work has focused on insects, including plant pests, agricultural disease vectors, and species that transmit pathogens affecting humans, animals, and plants. As technological advances accelerate, so does the recognition of the need for a careful and forward‐looking evaluation of their potential impacts.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of l‐valine produced with a genetically modified strain of Escherichia coli CCTCC M 2022134 as a nutritional additive for feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The l‐valine manufactured by fermentation with E. coli CCTCC M 2022134 does not give rise to any safety concern regarding the genetic modifications of the production strain. No viable cells nor DNA of the production strain were detected in the final product.

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Estonia and the co‐rapporteur Member State France, for the pesticide active substance Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus BV‐0003 and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported.

The food enzyme phospholipase A₁ (phosphatidylcholine 1‐acylhydrolase; EC 3.1.1.32) is produced with the non‐genetically modified Fusarium commune strain LFC by DSM Food Specialties B.V. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism. It is intended to be used in two food manufacturing processes. Dietary exposure was estimated to be up to 0.432 mg total organic solids (TOS)/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not indicate a safety concern.

The food enzyme containing leucyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1) and Xaa‐Pro dipeptidyl‐peptidase (EC 3.4.14.11) activities is produced with the non‐genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain DAP 19‐109 by Shin Nihon Chemical Co., Ltd. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism. It is intended to be used in 14 food manufacturing processes. Since residual amounts of food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) are removed in one process, dietary exposure was calculated for the remaining 13 food manufacturing processes.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety for the environment of feed additives containing trace elements, namely cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. In agreement with the European Commission, the present scientific opinion assesses only cobalt and molybdenum, as these are currently authorised exclusively for use in terrestrial food‐producing animals. The safety for the environment of the remaining trace elements will be assessed in a subsequent scientific opinion.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the feed additives guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and a preparation of GAA (Creamino®) for chickens for fattening and reared for laying and breeding, weaned piglets and pigs for fattening for the renewal of their authorisation and their extension of use in feed for suckling pigs. The additives are already authorised for use in chickens for fattening and reared for laying and breeding, weaned piglets and pigs for fattening.

One of EFSA research priority research areas is to better understand the role of toxicokinetic and its implementation into next generation risk assessment. Food ingredients and contaminants often lack data on their absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties, which are needed to model their bioavailability using Physiologically Based Kinetic (PBK) models.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of Lentilactobacillus diolivorans DSM 32074 as a technological additive for all animal species. The applicant provided evidence that the additive currently on the market complies with the existing terms of the authorisation. The Panel concluded that the additive remains safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of vermiculite as technological additive for piglets and pigs for fattening. The additive is already authorised for use for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying or reproduction and hens. In the previous opinion, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that vermiculite is efficacious as anticaking agent when used at 10,000 mg/kg complete feed.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the leaves of Urtica urens L. (dwarf nettle tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and/or in water for drinking for all animal species. The additive under assessment is a water/ethanol (■■■■■) tincture specified to have a dry matter content of 0.50%–0.80% (w/w) and to contain 0.9–1.8 mg/L p‐coumaric acid. The product contains on average 0.0076% (w/w) total polyphenols.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of formic acid and sodium formate as technological additives for all animal species for the renewal of their authorisations. The applicants provided evidence that the additive currently in the market complies with the existing conditions of the authorisation.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF Agro B.V. Arnhem (NL) Freienbach Branch submitted a request to the competent national authority in the Netherlands to set an import tolerance for the active substance dimethomorph in hops imported from the United States. The data submitted in support of the request was sufficient to derive an MRL proposal of 50 mg/kg which is lower than the existing maximum residue level (MRL) of 80 mg/kg for hops, recommended to be maintained in the recent targeted MRL review for dimethomorph.

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Sweden, and co‐rapporteur Member State, Netherlands, for the pesticide active substance Trichoderma afroharzianum (formerly harzianum) T‐22 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to provide scientific assistance with respect to the risk assessment for an active substance in light of confirmatory information requested following approval in accordance Article 6(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. In this context EFSA's scientific views on the specific points raised during the commenting phase conducted with Member States, the applicant and EFSA on the confirmatory information and their use in the risk assessment of isoxaflutole are presented.