(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)

Mandarin essential oil was authorised without a time limit in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC as a feed additive for all animal species. This additive was subsequently entered in the Register of feed additives as an existing product, in accordance with Article 10(1)(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 re-evaluation of expressed mandarin essential oil for all animal species.

(4)

The applicant requested expressed mandarin essential oil 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 expressed mandarin essential oil in water for drinking should not be allowed.

(5)

The applicant requested the additive to be classified in the additive category ‘sensory additives’ and in the functional group ‘flavouring compounds’. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(6)

The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) concluded in its opinion of 5 May 2021 (3) that, under the proposed conditions of use, expressed mandarin essential oil does not have adverse effects on animal health, consumer health or the environment. However, no conclusions could be drawn for companion animals and ornamental fish not normally exposed to citrus by-products. The Authority also concluded that expressed mandarin essential oil should be considered as a skin sensitiser and as an irritant to skin, eyes and the respiratory tract. Therefore, the Commission considers that appropriate protective measures should be taken to prevent adverse effects on human health, in particular as regards the users of the additive.

(7)

The Authority also concluded, that expressed mandarin essential oil is recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, therefore, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary. It also verified the report on the methods of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.

(8)

The assessment of expressed mandarin essential oil shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of the substance should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

(9)

The fact that expressed mandarin essential oil is not authorised for use as a flavouring in water for drinking, does not preclude its use in compound feed which is administered via water.

(10)

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 allow a transitional period for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements resulting from the authorisation.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,