(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 thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis 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 thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis 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 18 November 2025 (3) that thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. is safe up to certain maximum concentrations, further specified in that opinion for each animal species. Furthermore, it concluded that the use of thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. in animal feed, under the proposed conditions of use, is safe for consumers and the environment. The Authority concluded that thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The Authority indicated that exposure of users to the additive by any route is considered a risk. The Authority further concluded that since the leaves of Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L. and their preparations are 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. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additives in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(6)

In view of the above, the Commission considers that thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis 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. The Commission considers that the presence of thymol, a pharmacologically active substance according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 (4), at 35-60 % in thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. requires the setting of a maximum content for this feed additive in complete feed. It also considers that thyme essential oil from Thymus vulgaris L. and/or Thymus zygis L. shall not be used in combination with other sources of thymol. 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)

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,