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Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the flowering tops of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. (Spanish type origanum oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl).
Abstract: Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil from the flowering tops of (L.) Cav. (Spanish type origanum oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive under assessment is considered safe up to the maximum use level in complete feed of 15 mg/kg for poultry species, 30 mg/kg for pigs and horses, 20 mg/kg for ruminants, 25 mg/kg for rabbits, dogs, cats and ornamental fish, and 125 mg/kg for salmonids. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive is safe at 15 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use level in water for drinking is safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. The use of the additive in animal feed under the proposed conditions of use is safe for the consumer and the environment. Regarding user safety, the essential oil under assessment should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Since and its preparations were recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.
© 2024 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.
Publication Date: 2024-10-28 PubMed ID: 39469430PubMed Central: PMC11513607DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9018Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This research evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an essential oil derived from the flowering tops of Thymbra capitata (Spanish type origanum oil) as an additive for animal feed and drinking water across all animal species.
- The findings support specific safe usage levels for different animal species and confirm the additive’s safety for animals, consumers, and the environment, while also addressing potential risks to users handling the oil.
Background and Purpose
- The essential oil in question is extracted from the flowering tops of Thymbra capitata, commonly known as Spanish type origanum oil.
- The oil is proposed to be used as a sensory additive, meaning it helps flavor feed and water to potentially improve animal acceptance or intake.
- The European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess the safety and efficacy of this additive for all animal species.
Safety Assessment for Animals
- The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) evaluated the additive’s safety at various inclusion levels in complete feed for different animal categories:
- 15 mg/kg for poultry species.
- 30 mg/kg for pigs and horses.
- 20 mg/kg for ruminants (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats).
- 25 mg/kg for rabbits, dogs, cats, and ornamental fish.
- 125 mg/kg for salmonids (salmon and related fish species).
- These limits were extrapolated to other species with similar physiological characteristics.
- For species not closely related, a conservative safety level of 15 mg/kg feed was recommended.
- Regarding use in drinking water, it was deemed safe as long as the total daily intake from water and feed combined did not exceed the safe feed levels mentioned above.
Consumer and Environmental Safety
- The panel concluded that the use of the essential oil in animal feed at the proposed inclusion rates does not pose safety concerns to consumers who eat products (meat, milk, eggs, fish) derived from these animals.
- The environmental safety assessment determined that the additive’s use would not adversely affect ecosystems or biodiversity.
User Safety Considerations
- The essential oil can cause irritation to skin and eyes upon contact.
- It is also classified as a potential dermal and respiratory sensitiser, meaning it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Appropriate safety measures should be taken by workers handling the oil to minimize exposure risks, such as using protective gloves, goggles, and masks.
Efficacy and Functional Considerations
- Thymbra capitata and its preparations have long been recognized as food flavorings.
- The flavoring function of the essential oil in animal feed is considered equivalent to its function in human food.
- Because of this established use, no additional experimental demonstrations were deemed necessary to prove the additive’s efficacy as a sensory agent in animal nutrition.
Cite This Article
APA
Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, Christensen H, Durjava M, Dusemund B, Gehring R, Glandorf B, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, Marcon F, Nebbia C, Pechová A, Prieto-Maradona M, Röhe I, Theodoridou K, Bastos ML, Brantom P, Chesson A, Schlatter J, Westendorf J, Dirven Y, Manini P.
(2024).
Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the flowering tops of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. (Spanish type origanum oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl).
EFSA J, 22(10), e9018.
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9018 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
References
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