Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil obtained from the flowering aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. (thyme 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 an essential oil from the flowering aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. (thyme oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive under assessment is considered safe up to the maximum proposed use level in complete feed of 100 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, sows, veal calves, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, sheep/goats, horses, salmonids, dogs and ornamental fish. For the other target species, the calculated safe concentrations in complete feed were: 48 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 72 mg/kg for laying hens, 64 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 86 mg/kg for piglets, 76 mg/kg for rabbits and 38 mg/kg for cats. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive is safe at 38 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use in water for drinking is safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. The use of the additive in animal feed under the proposed conditions of use is safe for the consumer and the environment. Regarding user safety, the oil under assessment should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Exposure of users by any route is considered a risk. Since thyme oil is recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was necessary.