Safety and efficacy of essential oil, oleoresin and tincture from Zingiber officinale Roscoe when used as sensory additives in feed for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSAPanel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of essential oil, oleoresin and tincture from Zingiber officinale Roscoe when used as sensory additives in feed for all animal species. The FEEDAPPanel concludes that the additives under consideration are safe for the target species at the following use levels: (i) ginger essential oil up to the maximum proposed use level of 80 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer) and 20 mg/kg complete feed (or 20 mg/L water for drinking) for all other species; (ii) ginger oleoresin at the maximum proposed concentrations of 20 mg/kg complete feed for fish, sheep, goats and horses and of 1 mg/kg for pets. For the remaining species, the calculated maximum safe concentration of ginger oleoresin in feed is less than that proposed use level and ranges from 5 mg/kg complete feed for chickens for fattening to 21 mg/kg for veal calves; (iii) ginger tincture at the maximum proposed concentrations of 1.6 mL/kg complete feed for horses and 0.26 mL/kg for dogs. For poultry species, the calculated maximum safe dose ranges between 0.2 and 0.3 mg/L water for drinking. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of the additives up to the highest safe level in animal nutrition. The additives should be considered as irritants to skin and eyes and the respiratory tract and as a skin sensitisers. The use of the additives in feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since ginger and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.