Animal by-products

The specific requirements for animal by-products (ABPs) are set out in Regulation 1069/2009:

Animal by-products (ABPs) are defined in Article 3 of Retained EU Regulation 1069/2009 as:

“entire bodies or parts of animals, products of animal origin or other products obtained from animals, which are not intended for human consumption, including oocytes, embryos and semen”.

Retained EU Regulation 1069/2009 lays down the rules and requirements relating to ABPs, including their categorisation, handling, use and disposal. Of particular importance are the three categories of ABP, as this determines how the ABP should be handled and the danger to human and animal health it poses. The categories are listed below.

Category 1: High risk

Incudes ABPs such as: specified risk material (SRM), carcasses and body parts of animals suspected of TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy), carcasses and body parts of animals suspected of being infected with a disease transmissible to humans

Category 2: High Risk

Includes ABPs such as: animals rejected from abattoirs due to having infectious diseases, carcasses of dead livestock, carcasses of animals killed for disease control purposes

Category 3: Low Risk

Includes ABPs such as: carcasses or body parts passed fit for human consumption, products of animal origin originally meant for human consumption but withdrawn for commercial reasons, hides and skins for slaughterhouses, eggs, egg by-products hatchery by-products and eggshells

Visit Gov.uk to read a comprehensive list of ABPs in each category, as well as for and advice on how to become registered or approved to handle or dispose of different kinds of ABP.