Use of Animal By-Products for Educational, Research and some other purposes

On this page:

• Background
• What do makers of educational programmes have to do?
• What do Schools, Colleges and Universities have to do?
• Other educational uses of ABPS
• Game trophies and other preparations eg taxidermy
• Transport of ABPs

Background

The EU Regulation 142/2011 has special rules for the use and disposal of animal by-products for educational and research purposes. They can be found at Annex VI.

Research and diagnostic samples are defined as ‘Animal By-Products and derived products used for examination in the context of diagnostic activities or analysis for the promotion of progress in science and technology, in the context of educational or research activities’ In other words the definition is very wide.
The following points must be complied with.

• A simple commercial document must accompany each consignment. It must state what the material is, from which species it was obtained, the category of ABP (LINK to category guidance) how much material there is, where it came from, the name and address of the person who sent it and the name and address of the person receiving it. For educational purposes a commercial document is not needed at all.
  
• Materials must be handled in a way to prevent spread of disease and in accordance with good laboratory practice (if applicable)
  
• Once the samples are finished with they must be disposed of safely and not used for anything else.
  
• Unless the samples are to be kept for reference purposes they must be disposed of by incineration, autoclaving or equivalent, or pressure sterilisation. This does not apply to educational material although there is an overriding requirement to ensure handling and disposal does not create unacceptable risks to public or animal health
  
• A record of consignments of samples must be kept except at educational establishments
  

The Animal By-Products Enforcement Legislation, which has been introduced in England, Scotland and Wales has Authorisations which permit the use of ABPs for certain activities. The relevant ones here are Authorisation D8 (Authorisation to use Category 1,2 and 3 material for diagnostic, educational or research purposes, and to transport, use and dispose of research and diagnostic samples).and D12 (Authorisation to exempt certain operators (those handling/generating game trophies etc or handling/disposing of research and diagnostic samples for educational purposes) from the requirement to register) The full list of authorisations can be found on each countries website.

What do makers of educational programmes need to do?

Makers of educational programmes who wish to use ABPs may do so. They do not have to register with AHVLA. They must comply with the second and third bullet points above. This means that every care must be taken to handle ABPs safely. People handling them should wear protective clothing including gloves where appropriate. Once the material is finished with it must be disposed of in a safe way. Under most circumstances this means by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose but AHVLA may be able to advise on safe alternative routes e.g. in the case of small quantities of low risk material.

The above precautions apply particularly to use of the highest risk of animal by-products, known as Specific Risk Material (SRM). At the end of programme making the SRM must be disposed of by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose. The Food Standards Agency has a form (ABP7-1) that must be completed before SRM can leave an abattoir for use for educational and other purposes.

What do Schools, Colleges and Universities have to do?

Schools, colleges and universities using ABPs for educational purposes do not need to register with AHVLA, although where, for example, universities are engaged in using ABPs for pure research alongside their educational activities they will need to do so. They must comply with the second and third bullet points above. This means that every care must be taken to handle the ABPs safely. People handing them should wear protective clothing including gloves where appropriate. Once the material is finished with it must be disposed of in a safe way. Under most circumstances this means by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose but AHVLA may be able to advise on safe alternative routes e.g. in the case of small quantities of low risk material.

This even applies to the most risky of animal by-products, known as Specific Risk Material (SRM). When it is finished with the SRM must be disposed of by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose. The Food Standards Agency has a form (ABP7-1) that must be completed before SRM can leave an abattoir for educational and other purposes.

Other educational uses

There is no requirement to register with AHVLA if the ABPs are to be used for other educational purposes such as training of sniffer dogs. Operators must comply with the second and third bullet points above. This means that every care must be taken to handle the ABPs safely. People handing them should wear protective clothing including gloves where appropriate. Once the material is finished with it must be disposed of in a safe way. Under most circumstances this means by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose but AHVLA may be able to advise on safe alternative routes e.g. in the case of small quantities of low risk material.

This even applies to the most risky of animal by-products, known as Specific Risk Material (SRM) When it is finished with the SRM must be disposed of by rendering or incineration in a place that is approved for that purpose. The Food Standards Agency have a form (ABP7-1) that must be completed before SRM can leave an abattoir for educational and other purposes.

Game trophies and other preparations eg Taxidermy

People who produce Game trophies and other preparations (eg taxidermy) for private or non-commercial purposes do not have to register with AHVLA. However they must comply with the handling and disposal requirements of the legislation.

Transport (Haulage) of ABPs

The requirement for hauliers to be registered still applies to anyone transporting ABPs for any of the above purposes The haulier exemptions will apply. (link to registration, transport handling and storage)