2019年12月2日，据欧盟食品安全局（EFSA）消息，应欧盟委员会要求，欧盟动物饲料添加剂和产品（FEEDAP）研究小组就牛至精油（essential oil of Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum （link） leetsw.）作为所有动物物种的感官饲料添加剂的安全性和有效性发表科学意见。
经过评估，专家小组认为在建议使用水平下该饲料添加剂对目标物种是安全的。由于牛至及其制剂能够作为食物调味料，而且它们在饲料中的功能基本相同，因此不需要进一步证明该添加剂的功效性。
部分原文报道如下：
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed （FEEDAP） was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on an essential oil extracted from Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum （link） Ietsw. when used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species. Analysis of the oil identified 13 components accounting for > 99% of the oil, with carvacrol being the prevalent （78%）。 The FEEDAP Panel concludes that the proposed use level of 150 mg/kg complete feed is safe for ornamental fish. For the other species, the calculated maximum safe concentration of the essential oil in complete feed was 22 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 33 mg/kg for laying hens, 30 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 40 mg/kg for piglets, 48 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 63 mg/kg for sows, 57 mg/kg for dairy cows, 100 mg/kg for veal calves, 88 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep, goats and horses, 35 mg/kg for rabbits, 101 mg/kg for salmonids, 106 mg/kg for dogs, and 18 mg/kg for cats. No concerns for consumer safety were identified following the use of the additive up to the maximum safe concentration in feed. The additive is considered as irritant to skin and eyes and a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser. Use in animal husbandry of the essential oil extracted from O. vulgare ssp. hirtum is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since oregano and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the essential oil.
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