Study on the assessment of plants/herbs, plant/herb extracts and their naturally or synthetically produced components as ‘additives’ for use in animal production

Abstract

The last two decades have seen a substantial increase in use of herbs/botanicals and their products not only as herbal medicinal products and for food supplements, but also in the field of animal nutrition. The use of herbal feed additives, which include essential oils and (exotic) herbal mixtures, is extensively promoted by the producers, but the scientific background underpinning their use often is limited. Consequently an adequate knowledge of quality control (content of active substance(s) stability), efficacy and safety is often lacking. A critical examination of bioactive plant products has to cover analytical aspects, absorption, bioavailability and molecular functionality in addition to feeding experiments and technology development. Finally, quality assurance management (analytical methods) is considered an absolute prerequisite. Presently herbs/botanicals are used by the feed industry only as sensory additives, functional group “flavouring compounds”. These are defined by Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 as “substances the inclusion of which in feedingstuffs increases smell or palatability”. This regulation foresees the evaluation of all herbal products and their derived extracts currently on the market and notified to the European Commission. This is to be completed by 2010.