EFSA Panel Deems Geranium Rose Oil Safe as Sensory Additive in Animal Feed

On July 27th, 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 geranium rose 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 geranium rose oil is safe for all animal species under the proposed conditions of use, up to a maximum level of 5 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP panel also considered the use of geranium rose oil in drinking water to be safe, provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount considered safe when consumed via feed. No concerns were identified for consumers following the use of geranium rose oil up to the maximum proposed use level in feed. However, the additive was recognized to be irritant to the skin and eyes, as well as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of geranium rose oil at the proposed use level in feed was not expected to pose a risk to the environment.

Furthermore, since P. graveolens and its preparations were recognized to flavor food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.