Biomaterial Database

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (eucalyptus oil) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl). 2023

, and Vasileios Bampidis, and Giovanna Azimonti, and Maria de Lourdes Bastos, and Henrik Christensen, and Mojca Durjava, and Maryline Kouba, and Marta López-Alonso, and Secundino López Puente, and Francesca Marcon, and Baltasar Mayo, and Alena Pechová, and Mariana Petkova, and Fernando Ramos, and Yolanda Sanz, and Roberto Edoardo Villa, and Ruud Woutersen, and Paul Brantom, and Andrew Chesson, and Josef Schlatter, and Johannes Westendorf, and Yvette Dirven, and Paola Manini, and Birgit Dusemund

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil from the leaves and twigs of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (eucalyptus oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the use of eucalyptus oil is safe at the following concentrations in complete feed: 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. For any other species, the additive was considered safe at 10 mg/kg complete feed. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of eucalyptus oil up to the highest safe level in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes and the respiratory tract and as 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. Since E. globulus and its preparations were recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.