Kemin Industries‘ request for use of rosemary extract as antioxidant feed additive for cats and dogs has been authorized by the European Commission. The company points out that the authorization leads to a breakthrough in sustainable pet nutrition and will open new opportunities for antioxidants.
Kemin Industries, one of the global ingredient manufacturers that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has submitted a request to the European Commission to allow the use of liquid rosemary extract as an antioxidant feed additive for cats and dogs and has received authorization through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068.
The submission leading to this authorization was initiated by Kemin Nutrisurance, the pet food and rendering technologies business unit of Kemin Industries, and the resulting regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 15. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068 categorizes and approves of the additive as a “technological additive” within the “antioxidants” functional group, effective May 5.
Before this approval, the European Union’s pet food market primarily consisted of tocopherols for antioxidants, with limited options for antioxidant molecules of natural origin. This new addition of rosemary extracts 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 at 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, and environmentally friendly products.”
Kemin states that since 1996, its 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. Today, Kemin is one of the most vertically integrated suppliers of plant-based ingredients. Across the supply chain, Kemin controls the breeding, plant selection, growing, harvesting, and extraction for many of its specialty crops, allowing Kemin to ensure that every batch of product is consistent.
“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,” unveiled Dr. John A. Greaves, Vice President of Specialty Crop Improvement at Kemin Industries. “This is a game-changer for the pet food industry, as it opens new possibilities for natural and sustainable pet nutrition.”
