The applicant claims that the feed additive HPMC is specified to be manufactured to meet the specifications set for its use as a food additive. The main specifications as food and feed additive are: methoxyl groups ≥ 19 and ≤ 30%, hydroxypropoxyl groups ≥ 3 and ≤ 12%, loss on drying < 10%, sulfated ash < 1.5% (for products with viscosities of 50 mPa.s or above) or < 3% (for products with viscosities below 50 mPa.s). Five batches of the additive were analysed for some of the above specifications, resulting in: methoxyl groups (four batches) 23.5–29.2%, hydroxypropoxyl groups (four batches) 5.2–8.4%, loss on drying (one batch) 1.2% and sulfated ash (one batch) 0.6%. Only statements, without figures, of compliance with the specifications for some impurities (heavy metals, arsenic, solvents, microbial purity) were provided. Information on other impurities ((pesticides, dioxins, dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, mycotoxins, botanical impurities) was not provided.
