2019年4月3日，据欧盟食品安全局（EFSA）消息，应欧盟委员会的要求，欧盟动物饲料添加剂和产品（FEEDAP）研究小组对牛至精油（essential oil of Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum （link） leetsw.）作为所有家禽饲料添加剂的安全性和有效性进行了评估。

 

　　经过评估，由于缺乏数据，FEEDAP小组无法进行风险评估。牛至及其提取物是公认的调味食品，它们在饲料中的作用与在食品中的作用基本相同，因此没有必要进一步证明其功效。

 

　　部分原文报道如下：

 

　　Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed （FEEDAP） was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil of Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum （link） leetsw. for all poultry species. The essential oil under assessment obtained ■■■■■ is specified to contain carvacrol ■■■■■ and thymol （7%）。 The remaining 30% of the composition remains uncharacterised. In the absence of these data, the FEEDAP Panel was unable to make a risk assessment of the additive for the target species, the consumer and the user. Use in animal production of the essential oil extracted from O. vulgare ssp. hirtum （link） leetsw. is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since oregano and its extracts are universally recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.