Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1786 of 23 July 2026 concerning the authorisation of basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. as a feed additive for all animal species
Date: 2026-07-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: animal feedingstuffs, aromatic plant, flavouring, market approval




L_202601786EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/1786


24.7.2026







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/1786
of 23 July 2026
         
concerning the authorisation of basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum 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 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 basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum 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 basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum 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 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 24 June 2025 (3) that basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. is of no safety concern for short-living animals (species for fattening) and that it is very unlikely to induce adverse effects in long-living and reproductive animals up to certain maximum concentrations further specified in that opinion for each species. Furthermore, it concluded that no safety concerns for consumers and the environment were identified following the use of basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. The Authority also concluded that basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. should be considered an irritant to skin and eyes and a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The Authority indicated that, when handling the additive, exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol and estragole may occur and that therefore the exposure of the users should be minimised, in order to reduce the risk. The Authority further concluded that since basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum 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.












(6)


In view of the above, the Commission considers that basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum 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 methyleugenol and estragole, substances of concern, in basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. requires the setting of maximum content in complete feed. It also considers that a simultaneous use of basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L. with other additives is permitted, provided that the contents of methyleugenol and estragole in feed materials and compound feed remain below those that would result from using the additive or additives with the highest contents of these substances of concern, among all authorised feed additives, at their maximum or recommended content for the relevant species or animal category. 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,





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 basil tincture from Ocimum basilicum L., as authorised pursuant to Directive 70/524/EEC, and premixtures containing this additive, which are produced and labelled before 13 February 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 13 August 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 13 August 2027 in accordance with the rules applicable before 13 August 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 13 August 2028 in accordance with the rules applicable before 13 August 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.



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, 23 July 2026.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(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 feeding-stuffs (OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1970/524/oj).

(3)  
            EFSA Journal 2025, 23(7):e9543, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9543.




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 of additive/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12 %





Category: Sensory additives. Functional group: Flavouring compounds





2b308-t


Basil tincture



Additive composition

Tincture from dried leaves of Ocimum basilicum L.
Liquid form

Characterisation of active substance

Basil tincture:
Tincture, as defined by the Council of Europe (CoE) (1), obtained from the dried leaves of Ocimum basilicum L. by extended extraction with a water/ethanol solvent mixture, pressing and filtration.
EC number: 283-900-8
CAS number: 84775-71-3
CoE number: 308
Specifications
Dry matter content: 1,79 % – 1,8 %
Total polyphenols (2): ≤ 0,198 %
Flavonoids (3): ≤ 0,0257 %
1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol): ≤ 0,0019 %
Camphor: ≤ 0,0047 %
Rosmarinic acid: ≤ 0,0110 %
Methyleugenol: ≤ 0,0006 %
Estragole: ≤ 0,00005 %

Analytical method
 (4)

For the characterisation of the feed additive:






—


Spectrophotometry for the determination of total polyphenols and total flavonoids;










—


Gas chromatography coupled with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) for the determination of 1,8-cineole, camphor, estragole and methyleugenol;










—


Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS) for the determination of eugenol;










—


High performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric (UV) detection for the determination of rosmarinic acid.






Turkeys for fattening


—


—


87








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 stability to heat treatment shall be indicated.










3.


Simultaneous use of basil tincture with other additives is permitted, provided that the contents of methyleugenol and estragole in feed materials and compound feed are lower than those that would result from the use of the additive or the additives with the highest contents of methyleugenol and estragole, among all authorised feed additives, at their maximum or recommended content for the relevant species or animal category.










4.


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.






13 August 2036




Chickens for fattening and minor poultry for fattening


—


—


65




All poultry reared for laying or breeding


—


—


97




Ornamental birds


—


—


97




All poultry for laying and breeding


—


—


97




Pigs for fattening


—


—


140




Pigs for fattening of minor Suidae



—


—


140




Piglets (suckling and weaned) of all Suidae



—


—


116




All Suidae for reproduction


—


—


170




Calves for fattening


6 months


—


291




Sheep and goats


—


—


256




Cattle for fattening; other ruminants for fattening except sheep, goats and calves for fattening up to 6 months; Camelidae for fattening


—


—


256




All other ruminants;
all other Camelidae



—


—


166





Equidae



—


—


256





Leporidae



—


—


102




Salmonids and minor fin fish


—


—


292




Dogs


—


—


307




Cats


—


—


256




Ornamental fish


—


—


500




Other species and categories


—


—


65





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

(2)  Expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE).

(3)  Expressed as hyperoside equivalents.

(4)  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.







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1786/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)