Spanish sage oil (2b413-eo) and lavender oil (2b257-eo) in feed until 6 August 2035: markers determined by GC-FID to ISO 3526 and ISO 3515; sage up to 14 mg/kg because of camphor, lavender from 7 mg/kg (cats) to 39 mg/kg because of linalool oxides
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1403, published on 17 July 2025, following the re-evaluation of additives authorised under Directive 70/524/EEC, authorises until 6 August 2035 the essential oil from the leaves of Spanish sage and the oil from the fresh flowering tops of lavender as flavouring compounds for all animal species — not in water for drinking, since Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 does not provide for flavouring compounds there. In two opinions of 17 September 2024 EFSA considered both oils irritant to skin and eyes and dermal and respiratory sensitisers.
- Methods in the annex: in Spanish sage oil the phytochemical markers 1,8-cineole and camphor, in lavender oil linalyl acetate and linalool — both determined by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID), to ISO 3526 and ISO 3515 respectively. Specifications: sage — camphor 11–36 %, 1,8-cineole 10–30 %, α-pinene 4–11 %, d-limonene 2–6 %, thujones 0.001 % (no “≤” sign in the act; EFSA did not detect thujones at an LOD of 0.001 %); lavender — linalyl acetate 25–47 %, linalool 20–45 %, terpinen-4-ol 0.1–8 %, (Z)-β-ocimene < 10 %.
- Spanish sage (EFSA, five batches from Spain): up to 72 peaks by GC-MS, 99.3 % of the area identified; by GC-FID camphor on average 29.5 % (27.3–31.2), 1,8-cineole 25.5 % (24.0–26.9). The recommended 14 mg/kg for all species follows from camphor: d-camphor is safe up to 5 mg/kg complete feed, which at the upper specification of 36 % camphor gives 14 mg of oil. For the other components the lowest combined margin of exposure (MOET) was 191 (group CG 8, chickens for fattening). The applicant proposed 15–35 mg/kg; it submitted no data on heavy metals, dioxins, pesticides or mycotoxins.
- Lavender (four batches from Bulgaria or Spain): linalyl acetate on average 37.05 % (29.04–45.90), linalool 31.16 % (23.17–38.36), coumarin quantified in two batches — 0.072 % and 0.092 %. At the proposed 40 mg/kg the combined margin for group CG 13 (linalool oxides, Cramer class II) in chickens for fattening was only 22, so the levels were calculated for MOET ≥ 100, and for cats (poor glucuronidation) ≥ 500. The EINECS number in the act is 289-995-2, in the EFSA opinion 283-995-2. Oil from dried material is not covered by the assessment.
- Recommended maximum contents of lavender oil (mg/kg feed with 12 % moisture): cats and other species 7; chickens for fattening, poultry reared for laying or breeding and ornamental birds 9; turkeys for fattening 12; laying poultry 13; leporids 14; piglets and minor porcine species for fattening 16; pigs for fattening 19; other ruminants 22; porcine species for reproduction 23; dogs and ornamental fish 30; sheep, goats, cattle for fattening and equines 35; calves up to 6 months and salmonids 39. Both additives — only via a premixture, with skin, eye and respiratory protection. Transitional periods: additives and premixtures labelled before 6 February 2026, compound feed before 6 August 2026 (food-producing animals) or 6 August 2027.