The European Union evaluates the safety and efficacy of sweet fennel tincture as an additive for all animal feed

 

After evaluation, the Panel concluded that the additive was safe for consumers and the environment under the recommended conditions of use. Since its function in feed is essentially the same as in food, it is not considered necessary to further prove its efficacy. Some of the original articles are reported below:

 

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 fruit of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare var. dulce (sweet fennel tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 2.16%. The product contained 0.0586% polyphenols (of which 0.0052% were flavonoids), anethole (0.0006%), anisaldehyde (0.0035%) and estragole (0.0006%). The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) co ncluded that sweet fennel tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use levels of 200 mg/kg complete feed for horses and 50 mg/kg complete feed for all other animal species. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use in water for drinking is safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount which is co nsidered safe when consumed via feed. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of sweet fennel tincture up to the maximum proposed use levels in feed. Sweet fennel tincture should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. When handling the additive, exposure of unprotected users to estragole cannot be excluded. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. F. vulgare is native to Europe. The use of sweet fennel tincture as a flavour in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since the fruit of F. vulgare and its preparations were recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy was co nsidered necessary.