EFSA Confirms Safety and Efficacy of Clove Bud Oil, Clove Leaf Oil, and CCL Oil as Animal Feed Additives

On July 28, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that its Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) has delivered a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of clove bud oil, clove leaf oil, and a β-caryophyllene-rich fraction of clove leaf oil (CCL oil) as sensory additives in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The expert panel found that the use of these essential oils as animal feed additives is safe for target species, consumers, and the environment under the recommended usage conditions. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of clove oils up to the highest safe level in feed. The panel also concluded that the efficacy of the additives does not need to be further demonstrated as they are recognized to flavor food, and their function in feed would be essentially the same.

However, the additives should be considered irritants to skin and eyes, as well as the respiratory tract and skin sensitizers. Exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol may occur when handling the essential oils, so the exposure of users should be minimized to reduce the risk. The use of clove oils at the proposed use level in feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment.

Overall, the EFSA's opinion confirms the safety and efficacy of clove bud oil, clove leaf oil, and CCL oil as animal feed additives for all species under recommended usage conditions.

"Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of essential oils from the flower buds or the leaves of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry: clove bud oil, clove leaf oil and a β-caryophyllene-rich fraction of clove leaf oil (CCL oil), when used as sensory additives in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. Clove oils contain methyleugenol (up to 0.13%). The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of clove oils was of low concern for long-living and reproductive animals and of no concern for target species for fattening at the following concentrations in complete feed: 25–50 mg/kg for clove bud oil, 28–100 mg/kg for clove leaf oil and 20 mg/kg for CCL oil. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use in water for drinking alone or in conjunction with use in feed should not exceed the daily amount that is considered of low or no concern when consumed via feed alone. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of clove oils up to the highest safe level in feed. The additives under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes and the respiratory tract and as skin sensitisers. When handling the essential oils, exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol may occur. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. The use of clove oils at the proposed use level in feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since clove bud oil and clove leaf oil are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary."