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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/279 13.2.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/279
of 12 February 2025
concerning the authorisation of cajeput essential oil from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R.
Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. as a feed additive for all animal species
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003on
additives for use in animal nutrition(1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the
grounds and procedures for granting such an authorisation. Article 10(2) of that Regulation provides for the
re-evaluation of additives authorised pursuant to Council Directive 70/524/EEC(2).
(2) The substance cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca
leucadendra (L.) L. was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive
for all animal species. This substance was subsequently entered in the Register of Feed Additives as an existing
product, in accordance with Article 10(1), point (b), of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(3) In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 in conjunction with Article 7 thereof, an
application was submitted for the authorisation of cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm.
ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. as a feed additive for all animal species, requesting the additive to be
classified in the additive category ‘sensory additives’ and in the functional group ‘flavouring compounds’. The
application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC)
No 1831/2003.
(4) The applicant requested the additive to be authorised for use also in water for drinking. However, Regulation (EC)
No 1831/2003 does not allow the authorisation of ‘flavouring compounds’ for use in water for drinking. Therefore,
the use of this additive in water for drinking should not be allowed.
(5) The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 13 March 2024(3) that cajeput
essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. is safe for all
animal species at certain maximum concentrations further specified for each species. Furthermore, it concluded that
no concerns for consumers were identified following the use of cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi
Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L., under the proposed conditions, and that its use is not
expected to pose a risk to the environment under the proposed conditions. The Authority concluded that cajeput
essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. should be
considered as an irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The Authority further
concluded that since cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca
leucadendra (L.) L. is recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food,
no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of
the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
(1) OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2003/1831/oj.
(2) Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1, ELI: http://
data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1970/524/oj).
(3) EFSA Journal. 2024;22(4):8732.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/279/oj 1/6EN
OJ L, 13.2.2025
(6) In view of the above, the Commission considers that cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton &
Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. satisfies the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC)
No 1831/2003. Accordingly, the use of that substance should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this
Regulation. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent
adverse effects on the health of the users of the additive.
(7) The Commission considers that safety reasons do not require the setting of maximum levels for cajeput essential oil
derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. In order to allow better
control, the recommended maximum content should be indicated on the label of the feed additive. Where the
recommended maximum content is exceeded, certain information should be indicated on the label of the
premixtures concerned.
(8) Since safety reasons do not require the immediate application of the modifications to the conditions of authorisation
of the substance concerned, it is appropriate to provide for a transitional period for interested parties to prepare
themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.
(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Authorisation
The substance specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category ‘sensory additives’ and to the functional group
‘flavouring compounds’, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.
Article 2
Transitional measures
1. The feed additive cajeput essential oil derived from Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca
leucadendra (L.) L., as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are
produced and labelled before 5 September 2025 in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025 may
continue to be placed on the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted.
2. Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and
labelled before 5 March 2026in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025may continue to be placed on
the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for food-producing animals.
3. Compound feed and feed materials containing the feed additive referred to in paragraph 1, which are produced and
labelled before 5 March 2027in accordance with the rules applicable before 5 March 2025may continue to be placed on
the market and used until the stocks concerned are exhausted if they are intended for non-food producing animals.
2/6 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/279/ojEN
OJ L, 13.2.2025
Article 3
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 12 February 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/279/oj 3/6ANNEX
Minimum Maximum
Identifica- content content End of
Species or
tion number Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical Maximum period of
Additive category Other provisions
of the feed method age mg of additive/kg of authorisa-
of animal
additive complete feedingstuff with a tion
moisture content of 12 %
Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds
2b276-eo Cajeput Additive composition All — — — 1. The additive shall be incorporated 5 March
essential Essential oil from the leaves of Melaleuca cajuputi animal into the feed in the form of a 2035
oil Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra species premixture.
(L.) L.
2. In the directions for use of the
Liquid form additive and premixtures, the
storage conditions and the stability
Characterisation of active substance to heat treatment shall be
Cajeput essential oil indicated.
Essential oil as defined by the Council of Europe(1) 3. On the label of the additive, the
extracted by steam distillation from the leaves of following shall be indicated:
Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and ‘Recommended maximum
Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. content of the active substance per
kg of complete feedingstuff with a
CAS number: 8008-98-8 for essential oil from
moisture content of 12 %:
Melaleuca leucandendron L.
— 23 mg for turkeys for
Einecs number: 931-800-6
fattening;
FEMA number: 2225
— 18 mg for chickens for
CoE number: 276
fattening and minor poultry
for fattening; Specifications
— 18 mg for all poultry reared
— 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol): 50-70 %
for laying or breeding;
— α-Terpineol: 4-12 %
— 26 mg for all poultry for
— d-Limonene: 3-9 %
laying and breeding;
— methyleugenol, estragole and safrole:
— 18 mg for ornamental birds;
≤ 0,01 mg/kg
— 37 mg for pigs for fattening;
Analytical method(2) — 31 mg for pigs for fattening of
minor Suidae;
For the determination of 1,8-cineole (phytochemical
marker) in the feed additive:
— gas chromatography coupled with flame
ionisation detection (GC-FID) (ISO 11024)
4/6
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/279/oj
EN
OJ
L,
13.2.2025Minimum Maximum
Identifica- content content End of Species or
tion number Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical Maximum period of
Additive category Other provisions
of the feed method age mg of additive/kg of authorisa-
of animal
additive complete feedingstuff with a tion
moisture content of 12 %
Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds
— 31 mg for piglets (suckling
and weaned) of all Suidae;
— 30 mg for all Suidae for
reproduction;
— 78 mg for calves for fattening
up to 6 months;
— 69 mg for sheep and goats;
— 69 mg for cattle for fattening,
other ruminants for fattening
except sheep and goats, and
Camelidae for fattening;
— 45 mg for all other ruminants,
and all other Camelidae;
— 50 mg for Equidae;
— 28 mg for rabbits;
— 40 mg for salmonids and
minor fin fish;
— 30 mg for dogs;
— 5 mg for cats;
— 50 mg for ornamental fish;
— 5 mg for other species and
categories.’
4. The functional group, the
identification number, the name
and the added amount of the active
substance shall be indicated on the
label of the premixture where the
use level on the label of the
premixture would result in
exceeding the level referred to in
point 3.
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/279/oj
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ENMinimum Maximum
Identifica- content content End of
Species or
tion number Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical Maximum period of
Additive category Other provisions
of the feed method age mg of additive/kg of authorisa-
of animal
additive complete feedingstuff with a tion
moisture content of 12 %
Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds
5. For users of the additive and
premixtures, feed business
operators shall establish
operational procedures and
organisational measures to address
potential risks resulting from their
use. Where those risks cannot be
eliminated by such procedures and
measures, the additive and
premixtures shall be used with
personal skin, eye and breathing
protective equipment.
(1) Natural sources of flavourings – Report No 2 (2007).
(2) Details of the analytical methods are available at the following address of the Reference Laboratory: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/eurl-fa-eurl-feed-additives/eurl-fa-authorisation/eurl-fa-
evaluation-reports_en
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