Safety and efficacy of oct-1-en-3-ol, pent-1-en-3-ol, oct-1-en-3-one, oct-1-en-3-yl acetate, isopulegol and 5-methylhept-2-en-4-one, belonging to chemical group 5 and of isopulegone and α-damascone belonging to chemical group 8 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 oct-1-en-3-ol [02.023], pent-1-en-3-ol [02.099], oct-1-en-3-one [07.081], oct-1-en-3-yl acetate [09.281], isopulegol [02.067] and 5-methylhept-2-en-4-one [07.139], belonging to chemical group 5, and of isopulegone [07.067] and α-damascone [07.134] belonging to chemical group 8, when used as feed flavourings for all animal species. They are currently authorised for use as flavours in food. The FEEDAP Panel was unable to assess the safety of isopulegone because the purity of the compound could not be established and the safety of α-damascone [07.134] because of the inconclusive assessment of its genotoxicity. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the use of isopulegol [02.067] is safe at the maximum proposed dose of 5 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species, except cats for which the use level of 1 mg/kg is considered safe. 5-Methylhept-2-en-4-one [07.139] is safe at the proposed normal use levels of 1 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species. For oct-1-en-3-ol [02.023], pent-1-en-3-ol [02.099], oct-1-en-3-one [07.081] and oct-1-en-3-yl acetate [09.281], the calculated safe use level is 1 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species, except cats for which the calculated safe level is 0.6 mg/kg. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of these compounds up to the highest safe levels in feed. In the absence of studies to assess the safety for the user, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety for the users when handling the additives. Use of the compounds in animal feed at the maximum safe level is considered safe for the environment. Since the compounds are used in food as flavourings and their function in feed is essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy is necessary.