Revised animal by-product regulations now in force

The revised regulations continue to have a very wide scope covering all animal products. These include meat, fish, milk and eggs when they are not intended for human consumption as well as other products of animal origin including hides, feathers, wool, bones, horns, and hoofs.

They also cover carcases of fallen stock on farms, pet animals and wild animals where they are suspected of being diseased.

The main changes are:

• categorisation of Animal By-Products (ABPs). Mostly, material that was Category 2, such as aquatic invertebrates, is being reclassified as Category 3 and may be used for certain feeding purposes;
• food manufacturers or retailers who generate small quantities of raw ABP waste (i.e. less than 20kg per week of low-risk Category 3 food waste such as raw meat and fish) can now also dispose of this outside of the ABP controls;
• provision for the possibility of on farm containment of fallen stock.

There will also be a relaxation of controls on certain ABPs:

• use of certain ABPs, e.g. colostrum and unprocessed
  wool;
• application of certain ABPs to the land, e.g. shellfish
  shells and egg shells;
• disposal of ABPs arising from surgical intervention or
  birth of animals on farm.

Several types of activity will need to be registered, including the work of ABP hauliers and pet cemeteries. All plants that are currently approved will remain so. If you require further information on the registration process please contact your local Animal Health office or go to the Animal Health website.