Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2128 of 18 September 2026 concerning the authorisation of citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle as a feed additive for all animal species

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/2128 21.9.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION(EU) 2026/2128 of 18 September 2026 concerning the authorisation of citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle 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 2003 on 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 citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle 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 citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle 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 also for use 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 17 April 2024(3) that citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle is considered of no safety concern for target short-living animals and very unlikely to induce adverse effects for target long-living and reproductive animals and any other animal species at certain maximum concentrations further specified in that opinion for each animal species. Furthermore, it concluded that no safety concern would be expected for consumers from the use of citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle up to the highest proposed use level in feed and that its use under the proposed conditions is not expected to pose a risk to the environment. The Authority also concluded that citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes and as a dermal sensitiser.

The Authority indicated that, when handling the additive, exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol may occur and that to reduce that risk the exposure of the users should be minimised. The Authority further concluded that since citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle 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(5), e8790. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8790.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/2128/oj 1/6EN OJ L, 21.9.2026

(6) In view of the above, the Commission considers that citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle 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. The Commission considers that the presence of methyleugenol, substance of concern belonging to the group of p-allylalkoxybenzenes, in citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle requires the setting of maximum content for this feed additive in complete feed. Furthermore, the Commission considers that a simultaneous use of citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle with other feed additives is permitted provided that the combined content of p- allylalkoxybenzenes (methyleugenol, estragole, elemicin, safrole, myristicin, dillapiole, and apiole) in feed materials and compound feed remains below the content that would result from using the authorised feed additive with the highest content of those substances at its maximum or recommended maximum content for the relevant animal species or category. In addition, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects of citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle on the health of the users of the additive.

(7) 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.

(8) 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 citronella essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 11 April 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 11 October 2026 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 11 October 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 11 October 2026 may 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 11 October 2028 in accordance with the rules applicable before 11 October 2026 may 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/2026/2128/ojEN OJ L, 21.9.2026 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, 18 September 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/2128/oj 3/6ANNEX Minimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, description, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg of authorisation additive complete feed with a moisture content of 12 %

Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds 2b39-eo Citronella Additive composition Turkeys for - - 24,0 1. The additive shall be 11 October essential oil fattening incorporated into the feed in 2036 Essential oil from the leaves of the form of a premixture.

Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle Chickens for - - 18,0

2. In the directions for use of Liquid form fattening and the additive and minor poultry for premixtures, the storage Characterisation of the active substance fattening conditions and the stability

Citronella essential oil: to heat treatment shall be All poultry reared - - 3,5 indicated.

Essential oil, as defined by the Council of for laying or Europe(1), obtained from the leaves of breeding 3. Simultaneous use of Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle by steam citronella essential oil with distillation and further condensation of other feed additives is Ornamental birds - - 3,5 volatile constituents and separation from permitted provided that the the aqueous phase by decantation. combined content of p- All poultry for - - 3,5 allylalkoxybenzenes

CAS numbers: 8000-29-1(2) laying or breeding (methyleugenol, estragole, and 89998-15-2(2) elemicin, safrole, myristicin,

EINECS: 289-753-6(2) Pigs for fattening - - 20,0 dillapiole, and apiole) in feed

FEMA number: 2308(2) materials and compound

CoE number: 39 feed remains below the Pigs for fattening of - - 20,0 content that would result

Specifications: minor Suidae from using the authorised

Citronellal: 3-6 % feed additive with the highest

Geraniol: 15-23 % Piglets (suckling - - 3,5 content of those substances

Citronellol: 3-8,5 % and weaned) of all at its maximum or

Limonene: 7-11,5 % Suidae recommended maximum

(E)-Methyl isoeugenol: 7-15 % content for the relevant

Methyleugenol: ≤ 1 % All Suidaefor - - 6,0 animal species or category. reproduction Calves for fattening 6 months - 20,0 Sheep and goats for - - 20,0 fattening 4/6

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/2128/oj EN OJ L,

21.9.2026Minimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, description, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg of authorisation additive complete feed with a moisture content of 12 % Analytical method(3) Other sheep and - - 9,5 4. For users of the additive and For the determination of citronellal goats premixtures, feed business (phytochemical marker) in the feed operators shall establish

additive: operational procedures and — gas chromatography coupled with organisational measures to flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) Cattle for fattening; - - 20,0 address potential risks (ISO 3849) other ruminants resulting from their use.

for fattening except Where those risks cannot be sheep, goats and eliminated by such calves for fattening procedures and measures, up to 6 months the additive and premixtures old; Camelidaefor shall be used with personal fattening skin, eye and breathing protective equipment.

All other - - 6,0 ruminants; all other Camelidae Equidae - - 9,5 Leporidaefor - - 20,0 fattening Other Leporidae - - 3,5 Salmonids and - - 30,0 minor fin fish Dogs - - 10,0

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/2128/oj 5/6 OJ L,

21.9.2026 ENMinimum Maximum content content Identification Name of the Composition, chemical formula, description, Species or category of Maximum End of period of number of the Other provisions additive analytical method animal age mg active substance/kg of authorisation additive complete feed with a moisture content of 12 % Cats - - 2,0 Other species and - - 2,0 categories

(1) Natural sources of flavourings - Report No. 2 (2007).

(2) Here it only refers to the essential oil from the leaves of Cymbopogon nardus(L.) Rendle.

(3) 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.

6/6

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/2128/oj EN OJ L,

21.9.2026