EU evaluates the safety and effectiveness of sweet fennel oil as a feed additive for dogs and cats and bitter fennel oil as a feed additive for all animals

On October 30, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in response to a request from the European Commission, released scientific opinions concerning the safety and efficacy of sweet fennel oil as a feed additive for dogs and cats and bitter fennel oil as a feed additive for all animals.

The key findings from the report are as follows:

EFSA was tasked with providing a scientific opinion on the safety and effectiveness of essential oils derived from the fruit and stems of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., specifically bitter fennel oil and sweet fennel oil, when used as sensory additives or flavorings in animal feed.

For long-living and reproductive animals, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) determined that the use of bitter fennel oil, containing estragole up to 6.1%, at the proposed use levels in complete feed is of low concern. The proposed use levels are as follows: 0.6 mg/kg for laying hens and rabbits, 1.0 mg/kg for sows and dairy cows, 1.5 mg/kg for sheep, goats, horses, and cats, 1.9 mg/kg for dogs, and 7.1 mg/kg for ornamental fish.

For short-lived animals, particularly those raised for fattening, the Panel found no safety concerns when using bitter fennel oil at the proposed use levels in complete feed. These levels are 18.2 mg/kg for chickens raised for fattening, 24.3 mg/kg for turkeys raised for fattening, and 25 mg/kg for piglets, pigs raised for fattening, veal calves, cattle raised for fattening, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, and salmon. These conclusions were extended to other physiologically related species.

The use of sweet fennel oil, which contains estragole up to 5.0%, was also deemed of low concern at the proposed use levels in complete feed. These levels are 2.3 mg/kg for dogs and 1.9 mg/kg for cats.

Furthermore, it was concluded that the use of bitter fennel oil in animal feed is not expected to pose concerns for consumers or the environment. However, it is noted that the additives under evaluation should be considered as irritants to the skin and eyes and as dermal and respiratory sensitisers. Due to the high concentration of estragole (>1%), fennel oils are classified as suspected of causing genetic defects and of causing cancer, and should be handled with appropriate precautions.

Given that the fruit of F. vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare and its preparations are already recognized for flavoring food, no further demonstration of efficacy was deemed necessary.