Celery seed and caraway oils in feed: Regulation (EU) 2026/96 sets limits for furocoumarins (bergapten ≤ 0.001%) and perillaldehyde, maximum contents in feed and GC-FID methods; the additives are withdrawn for cats and ornamental fish
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/96 of 15 January 2026, published on 16 January, authorises until 5 February 2036 celery seed essential oil (2b52-eo) and caraway essential oil (2b112-eo) as flavouring compounds in feed — for poultry, pigs, ruminants, camelids, horses, rabbits, salmonids and minor fish species, and dogs. Because of perillaldehyde and furocoumarins it sets maximum contents in complete feed, and for the remaining species, including cats and ornamental fish, it withdraws both additives from the market.
- Celery seed oil (from the fruit of Apium graveolens, steam distillation): d-limonene 35–79%, β-selinene 5–20%, senkyunolide A 1.5–22%, β-pinene 0.3–2%, perillaldehyde ≤ 0.025%, furocoumarins — bergapten ≤ 0.001%, psoralen, xanthoxin and isopimpinellin < 0.00025%, isoimperatorin < 0.0005%. The marker — limonene — is determined by GC-FID according to ISO 3760.
- Caraway oil (from dried ripe fruit of Carum carvi): d-carvone 45–65%, d-limonene 30–50%, perillaldehyde ≤ 0.5%; limonene and carvone are determined by GC-FID according to European Pharmacopoeia monograph 1817. In the data submitted to EFSA (opinion of 27 June 2024), furocoumarins were analysed in six batches of celery seed oil from two suppliers — only bergapten was detected, in all batches at about 0.001%; myristicin was not detected (limit of detection 0.001%).
- Maximum contents in complete feed, e.g. celery seed oil: 1.6 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 2.1 mg/kg for turkeys, 3.3 mg/kg for pigs for fattening and 7.2 mg/kg for dogs; caraway oil: 9, 12, 19 and 25 mg/kg for the same animals. Mixing with other botanical additives is allowed provided that the levels of perillaldehyde (and, for celery, furocoumarins) in feed do not exceed those resulting from the single additive at its maximum content.
- For cats, ornamental fish and other species EFSA could draw no conclusions, and the applicant withdrew the application for all species other than those listed in the annex. Use in water for drinking was not permitted, as Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 does not provide for it for flavourings. Stocks for the withdrawn species: additives until 5 February 2027, premixtures until 5 May 2027, feed until 5 February 2028.