EFSA Panel Deems Eucalyptus Oil Safe as Sensory Additive in Animal Feed

On July 28th, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) has issued a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of eucalyptus oil as a sensory additive in animal feed, following a request from the European Commission.

After evaluation, the expert panel concluded that the use of eucalyptus oil is safe for all animal species under the proposed conditions of use. The panel also stated that there is no need to further demonstrate its efficacy as it is recognized to flavor food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food. The recommended concentrations for eucalyptus oil in complete feed are 12 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 18 mg/kg for laying hens, 16 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 22 mg/kg for piglets, 26 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 32 mg/kg for sows, 55 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer), 48 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep, goats and horses, 31 mg/kg for dairy cows, 19 mg/kg for rabbits, 55 mg/kg for salmonids, 58 mg/kg for dogs, 10 mg/kg for cats and 75 mg/kg for ornamental fish. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species, and for any other species, the additive was considered safe at 10 mg/kg complete feed.

The FEEDAP panel also concluded that there were no concerns for consumers following the use of eucalyptus oil up to the highest safe level in feed. However, the additive was recognized to be irritant to the skin and eyes, as well as the respiratory tract and a skin sensitiser. The use of eucalyptus oil at the proposed use level in feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment.