Animal by-products

Animal by-products (ABPs) are entire animal bodies, parts of animals, products of animal origin or other products obtained from animals that are not fit or intended for human consumption.

Animal by-products include:

animal carcasses and parts of animal carcasses - including fish
manure from farmed animals
blood, hides, skins, hooves and horns
feathers, wool, hair and fur

They must be dealt with in accordance with strict regulations designed to prevent harm to people, animals and the environment.

Legislation

The EU Animal By-Product Regulation 1069/2009 and its accompanying implementing Commission Regulation 142/2011 came into force in Scotland in March 2011 and among other measures prohibits the burial or burning of fallen stock on-farm.

The EU regulations are implemented by the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 and the Animal By-Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Animal by-product operators: inspection and guidance

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for inspecting animal by-product operators in Scotland, and can provide detailed guidance on the requirements they need to meet.

We have produced animal by-products disposal guidance.

Guidance on the use, disposal, transport, handling and storage of animal by-products is available on the animal by-products section of the Gov.uk website.

Competent authority authorisation

The EU Animal By-Products Regulation allows member states to derogate from the basic framework of animal by-products controls in specified areas provided certain conditions are met.

Some types of derogation are provided for directly in the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013. Others will be the subject of an authorisation issued by the Scottish Ministers. Read more at: EU animal by-products regulation: competent authority authorisations

Types of animal by-products premises

There are many premises that generate, store, use handle or dispose of animal by-products, as set out below:

Types of animal by-product	Related premises
Animal carcasses and parts of carcasses	rendering plants incineration and combustion plants petfood plants knacker yards and hunt kennels (intermediate plants and collection centres abattoirs (NB: approved by FSA) farms (fallen stock)
ABP food waste	food manufacturers catering establishments food retailers
Other ABP plants/sites	plants handling ABPs to make technical products (e.g. tanneries, taxidermists, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices) handling/storage plants
Compost/Biogas/OFSI	manufacturers of organic fertilisers and soil improvers ( OFSI) composting plants anerobic digestion (biogas plants)

Animal health and welfare