Safety and efficacy of aromatic ketones, secondary alcohols and related esters belonging to chemical group 21 when used as flavourings for all animal species

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the fruit of Illicium verum Hook.f. (star anise oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of star anise oil from the fruit (without or with the presence of plant leaves) of Illicium verum Hook.f., when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. For long-living and reproductive animals, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) considered of low concern the use of the additive in complete feed at 0.6 mg/kg for laying hens and rabbits, 1.0 mg/kg for sows and dairy cows, 1.6 mg/kg for sheep/goats, horses and cats, 1.9 mg/kg for dogs and 6.5 mg/kg for ornamental fish. For short-living animals, the Panel had no safety concern when the additive is used at 83.3 mg/kg for veal calves, 73.3 mg/kg for sheep/goats, cattle for fattening and horses for meat production, 83.8 mg/kg for salmonids, 24.8 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 18.5 mg/kg chickens for fattening, 33.3 mg/kg for piglets, 40 mg/kg for pigs for fattening and 29.3 mg/kg for rabbits for meat production. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive was considered of low concern at 0.6 mg/kg. The use of star anise oil in animal feed is expected to be of no concern for consumers and for the environment. The additive under assessment should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Due to the high concentration of estragole (≥ 1%), the additive is classified as suspected of causing genetic defects and of causing cancer and should be handled accordingly. Since the fruit of I. verum and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be the same, no further demonstration of efficacy was necessary.

Safety of 31 flavouring compounds belonging to different chemical groups when used as feed additives for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of 31 compounds belonging to different chemical groups, when used as sensory additives in feed for all animal species. Twenty-two out of the 31 compounds were tested in tolerance studies in chickens for fattening, piglets and cattle for fattening. For the remaining nine compounds, read across from structurally similar compounds was proposed. No adverse effects were observed in the tolerance studies at 10-fold the intended level. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the 22 compounds are safe for these species at the proposed use level and conclusions were extrapolated to all animal species for all the compounds except for α-damascone [07.134]. In the absence of data that would allow the FEEDAP Panel to rule out the genotoxicity concern, the FEEDAP Panel cannot extend the conclusions for α-damascone [07.134] to all animal species and cannot conclude on the safety for the consumer, the user and the environment. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of the remaining 30 compounds up to the highest levels considered safe for target animals. The revised maximum safe levels for the 30 compounds are not expected to further impact on the previous conclusions on user safety. The concentrations considered safe for the target species are unlikely to have detrimental effects on the environment for all the compounds except β-damascone [07.083] and (E)-β-damascone [07.224], for which in the absence of ecotoxicity data, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety for the terrestrial compartments. For the marine environment, the safe use level for 2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-ol [02.035], α-irone [07.011], β-damascone [07.083] and (E)-β-damascone [07.224], phenethyl isovalerate [09.466], 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one [07.055] and 2-isopropyl-4-methylthiazole [15.026] is confirmed to be 0.05 mg/kg.

Safety and efficacy of 4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one and benzophenone belonging to chemical group 21 when used as flavouring compounds for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of 4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one [07.024] and benzophenone [07.032] belonging to chemical group 21, when used as feed flavourings for all animal species. They are currently authorised for use as flavours in food. The use of 4-phenyl-3-butene-2-one [07.024] is safe at the proposed normal use levels of 1 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species. Benzophenone [07.032] is safe at the proposed normal use levels of 1 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species except chicken for fattening, laying hens and piglets, for which the calculated safe concentration in feed is 0.5 mg/kg. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of 4-phenyl-3-butene-2-one [07.024] and benzophenone [07.032] as feed flavourings. In the absence of studies to assess the safety for the user, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety for users when handling the additives. The use of 4-phenyl-3-butene-2-one [07.024] and benzophenone [07.032] in animal feed at the maximum safe use level in feed is also considered safe for the environment. Since the compounds under assessment are used in food as flavourings and their function in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.