Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2090 of 18 September 2026 concerning the authorisation of star anise essential oil from Illicium verum Hook.f. as a feed additive for all animal species

Authorisation

Article 1

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.

Transitional measures

Article 2

1.   The feed additive star anise essential oil from Illicium verum Hook.f., 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.

Entry into force

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX Identification number of the additive Name of the additive Composition, chemical formula, description, analytical method. Species or category of animal Maximum age Minimum content Maximum content Other provisions End of period of authorisation mg active substance/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12 % Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds 2b238-eo Star anise essential oil Additive composition Essential oil from the dry fruit of Illicium verum Hook.f. Liquid form Characterisation of the active substance Star anise essential oil: Essential oil, as defined the Council of Europe  ( 1 ) , obtained from the dry fruit (without or with the presence of plant leaves) of Illicium verum Hook.f. by steam distillation and further condensation of volatile constituents and separation from the aqueous phase by decantation. CAS numbers: 84650-59-9  ( 2 ) and 68952-43-2 Einecs number: 283-518-1  ( 2 ) FEMA number: 2096 CoE number:238 Specifications trans-Anethole(1-methoxy-4-(prop-1(trans)- enyl)benzene): 85-93 % Estragole: maximum 6 % Limonene: 0,2-6 % Linalool: 0,2-2,5 % Safrole: maximum 0,01 % Analytical method  ( 3 ) For the determination of trans-anethole (phytochemical marker) in the feed additive: — Gas chromatography coupled to flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) ISO 11016. Turkeys for fattening — — 24,8 1. The additive shall be incorporated into the feed in the form of a premixture. 2. In the directions for use of the additive and premixtures, the storage conditions and the stability to heat treatment shall be indicated. 3. Simultaneous use of star anise essential oil 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. 4. For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address the 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 breathing, eye and skin protective equipment. 11 October 2036 Chickens for fattening and minor poultry for fattening — — 18,5 All poultry reared for laying or breeding — — 0,6 Ornamental birds — — 0,6 All poultry for laying or breeding — — 0,6 Pigs for fattening — — 40,0 Pigs for fattening of minor Suidae — — 33,3 Piglets (suckling and weaned) of all Suidae — — 0,6 All Suidae for reproduction — — 1,0 Calves for fattening 6 months — 83,3 Sheep and goats for fattening — — 73,3 Other sheep and goats — — 1,6 Cattle for fattening; other ruminants for fattening except sheep, goats and calves for fattening up to 6 months old; Camelidae for fattening — — 73,3 All other ruminants; all other Camelidae — — 1,0 Equidae — — 1,6 Leporidae for fattening — — 29,3 Other Leporida e — — 0,6 Salmonids and minor fin fish — — 83,8 Dogs — — 1,9 Cats — — 1,6 Ornamental fish — — 6,5 Other species and categories — — 0,6 ( 1 )   Natural sources of flavourings — Report No 2 (2007). ( 2 )   Here it only refers to the essential oil from the dry fruit of Illicium verum Hook.f. ( 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 .