The European Commission has allowed the use of liquid rosemary extract as an antioxidant feed additive for cats and dogs through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068. The submission leading to the authorization was initiated by Kemin Nutrisurance, pet food and rendering technologies business unit of Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that supplies over 500 speciality ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceuticals, food technologies, crop technologies, and textile, biofuel and animal vaccine industries.
The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the official gazette of record of the European Union, on April 15. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068 categorizes and approves of the additive as a “technological additive” within the “antioxidants” functional group. The regulation goes into effect from Sunday.
Before this groundbreaking approval, the European Union’s pet food market primarily consisted of tocopherols for antioxidants, with limited options for antioxidant molecules of natural origin, a press statement from Kemin Industries said. The addition of rosemary extract not only expands the range of available antioxidants, but also addresses critical supply chain challenges.
“By diversifying sourcing and mitigating dependency on a single ingredient, Kemin Nutrisurance reinforces its commitment to sustainability and supply resilience in the pet food industry,” said Beth Mann, global director of quality and food safety, Kemin Nutrisurance. “Rosemary extract is a versatile and effective antioxidant that can help pet food manufacturers meet the growing demand for clean label, high-quality, environmentally friendly products.”
Since 1996, Kemin’s Specialty Crop Improvement team has used conventional breeding methods to continually develop lines of proprietary rosemary with high levels of carnosic acid, a molecule with powerful antioxidant capabilities. Kemin is now among the more vertically integrated suppliers of plant-based ingredients. Across the supply chain, the company controls the breeding, plant selection, growing, harvesting, and extraction for many of its speciality crops, allowing it to ensure that every batch of product is consistent.
Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 3,000 employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the USA.
“We are thrilled to receive this authorization from the European Commission, which is the result of decades of research and development, as well as close collaboration with the authorities,” said Dr John A. Greaves, vice-president of specialty crop improvement, Kemin Industries. “This is a game-changer for the pet food industry, as it opens new possibilities for natural and sustainable pet nutrition.”
Source: PR Newswire
