EURCAW Ruminants & Equines has published its response to a query concerning the use of glycerol in drinking water as an antifreeze during animal transport.

The requester raised two main questions. First, whether an antifreeze product composed of glycerin, an authorised feed material within the EU, can be legally added to animals’ drinking water during transport to prevent freezing, and if not, on what legal grounds authorities may take enforcement action against this practice.

Second, the query refers to the product Reidal, manufactured in the Netherlands, which is reportedly being used with increasing frequency by transporters in animals’ drinking water. While glycerin is authorised as a feed material and may be administered to animals dissolved in drinking water, some interpretations suggest that “this practice is not acceptable, as water containing glycerin does not adequately quench the feeling of thirst”.

For the purpose of this Q2E, the definitions of ‘glycerol’, ‘crude glycerine’, ‘glycerine’, ‘feed materials’ and ‘feed additives’ shall apply.

For more see: Q2E-Ruminants-Equines-2026-002

This query was submitted through the “Questions to EURCAW” (Q2E) service, which is available to Competent Authorities and government policy officials from EU Member States.