Peppermint, clary sage and sage oils in feed: GC-FID markers to ISO 856, Ph. Eur. 1850 and ISO 9909, pulegone ≤ 1.72 % and menthofuran ≤ 4.54 % in peppermint, α-thujone 18–27 % in sage
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1400, published on 17 July 2025, authorises until 6 August 2035 three essential oils as flavouring compounds for all animal species: peppermint oil (2b282-eo), clary sage oil (2b415-eo) and sage oil (2b414-eo). Use in water for drinking is not allowed, because Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 does not provide for it for flavouring compounds; recommended maximum contents are given on the labels.
- Specifications (GC-FID, % peak area) and methods: peppermint — menthol 30–55 %, menthone 13–32 %, d,l-isomenthone 1.5–10 %, menthyl acetate 2–10 %, 1,8-cineole 2–8 %, pulegone ≤ 1.72 %, menthofuran ≤ 4.54 %, β-thujone ≤ 0.01 %, coumarin and estragole ≤ 0.001 %; markers menthol and menthone (ISO 856). Clary sage — linalyl acetate 55–78 %, linalool 6.5–25 % (Ph. Eur. monograph 1850). Sage — α-thujone 18–27 %, camphor 4–24.5 %, 1,8-cineole 5.5–13 %, β-thujone 3–7 % (ISO 9909).
- Batches according to EFSA: peppermint — 10 batches from the USA and India, menthol 42.51–45.54 %, menthone 17.49–24.32 % (GC-FID); in the GC-MS analysis of these batches pulegone 0.48–1.72 %, menthofuran 2.29–4.54 %, β-thujone in traces (≤ 0.015 %). Clary sage (France, Russia) — linalyl acetate 61.87–74.84 %, linalool 10.88–17.91 %. Sage (Ukraine) — α-thujone 23.54–26.00 %, camphor 18.50–18.87 %, β-thujone 4.98–6.16 %.
- Recommended maximum contents (mg/kg complete feed): peppermint — 12 for all species; clary sage — from 4 (cats, other species) to 20 (dogs, salmonids, ornamental fish), e.g. 5 for chickens for fattening and 11 for pigs for fattening; sage — from 2 (cats, other species) to 20 (ornamental fish), e.g. 3 for chickens and turkeys, 12 for dogs. The values correspond to the safe concentrations in the EFSA opinions of 16 October, 20 November and 26 November 2024.
- In the Polish version of the annex, for both sage oils two entries read “all poultry species reared for laying or breeding” with different values (5 and 8 mg, 3 and 4 mg); the English version distinguishes poultry “reared for laying or breeding” from poultry “for laying or breeding”. EFSA considered all three oils irritant to skin and eyes and dermal and respiratory sensitisers.