Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of glyceryl polyethyleneglycol ricinoleate (PEG castor oil) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of glyceryl polyethyleneglycol ricinoleate (PEG castor oil) as technological feed additive for all animal species. PEG castor oil is safe at a maximum concentration in complete feed of 90 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and other minor growing poultry; 134 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/breeding birds kept for egg production/reproduction; 121 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening; 162 mg/kg for piglets and other minor growing ; 194 mg/kg for pigs for fattening; 236 mg/kg for sows other minor reproductive ; 231 mg/kg for dairy cows and other dairy ruminants (other than sheep/goats); 142 mg/kg in rabbits and 377 mg/kg in veal calves; 356 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and other growing ruminants, sheep, goat, horses and cats; 427 mg/kg for dogs; 407 mg/kg for salmonids and other fin fish; and 1,584 mg/kg for ornamental fish. For other growing species and non-food producing animals, the additive is considered safe at 90 mg/kg complete feed. The use of PEG castor oil as feed additive for all animal species would be of no concern for the consumer. The FEEDAP Panel considered inhalation exposure of the user to the additive unlikely. PEG castor oil is not considered a skin sensitiser. The panel was not in the position to conclude on the potential of the additive to be a skin or eye irritant. The additive is a readily biodegradable substance and is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. The lack of sufficient data does not allow the FEEDAP Panel to conclude on the efficacy of PEG castor oil as an emulsifier in feedingstuffs.