England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are releasing new animal by-products regulations.1 They follow revised European legislation after a review of existing rules by the European Commission. Only the Scottish regulations have so far been released.2
The legislation remains similar with its classification of animal by-products into high-risk category 1 to low-risk category 3 classes. Changes include an ‘end point’ where processed products are no longer subject to the regulation as risks have been cut by heat or chemical treatment.
The rules will also keep animal by-products not intended for human consumption from re-entering the food chain.
Plants handling animal by-products must be approved or registered. Some transporters of animal by-products will need to register for the first time. This is aimed at strengthening traceability.
The regulations set hygiene rules for composting animal by-products and catering waste, unless for home composting or institutions such as hospitals. This exception now covers anaerobic digestion and situations where there is no risk of livestock gaining access to wastes.
