Safety and efficacy of α,β-unsaturated straight-chain and branched-chain aliphatic primary alcohols, aldehydes, acids and esters belonging to chemical group 3 when used as flavourings for all animal species.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of 43 compounds belonging to chemical group 3 (α,β-unsaturated straight-chain and branched-chain aliphatic primary alcohols, aldehydes, acids and esters) when used as feed flavourings for all animal species and categories. They are currently authorised as flavours in food. This opinion concerns 17 compounds from this group. The FEEDAP Panel established the following conclusions: geraniol [02.012] and citral [05.020] are safe for all target species at the proposed maximum use level of 25 mg/kg feed; farnesol [02.029], ()-nerol [02.058], geranyl acetate [09.011], geranyl butyrate [09.048], geranyl formate [09.076], geranyl propionate [09.128], neryl propionate [09.169], neryl formate [09.212], neryl acetate [09.213], neryl isobutyrate [09.424] and geranyl isobutyrate [09.431] are safe at the maximum proposed use level of 5 mg/kg feed for all target species; 2-methyl-2-pentenoic acid [08.055], ()-methylcrotonic acid [08.064], ethyl ()-deca-2,4-dienoate [09.260] and prenyl acetate [09.692] are safe at the proposed normal use levels of 1 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of these compounds up to the highest safe level in feeds. Hazards for skin and eye contact and respiratory exposure are recognised for the majority of the compounds under application. Most are classified as irritating to the respiratory system. The concentrations considered safe for the target species are unlikely to have detrimental effects on the terrestrial and fresh water environments. As all of the compounds under assessment are used in food as flavourings and their function in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.