Animal By-Products Order 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order implements Council Directive 90/667/EEC of 27th November 1990 laying down the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market and for the prevention of pathogens in feedingstuffs of animal or fresh origin and amending Directive 90/425/EEC.

The Order defines animal by-products (Article 3) and lays down rules for their disposal and processing. Waste food defined in, and required to be processed under, the provisions of the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973 and certain other products when not being used in feedingstuffs are excluded from the scope of the Order (Article 4).

The main requirements of the Order are that—

1.  the animal by-products referred to in Part I of Schedule 1 must, with certain exceptions, be disposed of by rendering in approved premises, by incineration or by burial. The exceptions are for by-products used for scientific purposes as defined in Article 3; for the use under the authority of a licence from the Minister for the production of material that has not been fully rendered; or for the use of certain byproducts in knackers' yards and certain other premises (Article 5);

2.  the animal by-products referred to in Part II of Schedule 1 must, with certain exceptions, be disposed of by rendering in approved premises, by incineration or by burial. The exceptions are for by-products used for scientific purposes as defined in Article 3; for their use in knackers' yards and certain other premises; for their collection or use in the preparation of pet food, technical or pharmaceutical products in plants registered under Article 9; or for their use under the authority of a licence from the Minister for the production of material that has not been fully rendered (Article 6);

3.  animal by-products must only be moved in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2 (Article 7);

4.  premises cannot be used for rendering (including fishmeal production) of animal by-products unless they are approved in writing by the Minister. The premises must meet the requirements of Part I or Part II of Schedule 4 according to the caterogy of the raw material handled (Article 8, which lays down the requirements and conditions for their approval);

5.  persons using premises for collecting animal by-products for the preparation of petfood or for producing petfood (other than knackers), technical or pharmaceutical products must be registered in respect of those premises. The premises must meet the requirements of Schedule 6 (Article 9, which lays down the requirements and conditions for their registration);

6.  persons receiving or using certain animal by-products on any premises for feeding to zoo, circus or fur animals, recognised packs of hounds or to maggots farmed for fishing bait must be registered in respect of those premises (Article 10, which lays down the requirements and conditions for their registration).