Categorisation of animal by-products
Under Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 animal by-products can fall into one of three categories that reflect the level of risk to public and animal health.
Category 1 Material
Category 1 material is defined in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.
It is the highest risk, and consists principally of material that is considered a TSE risk, such as Specified Risk Material (SRM) - those parts of an animal considered most likely to harbour a disease such as BSE, e.g. bovine spinal cord.
Pet animals, zoo and circus animals and experimental animals are also classified as category 1 material due to the level of veterinary drugs and residues they may contain. Wild animals may also be classified as category 1 material when they are suspected of carrying a disease communicable to humans or animals.
Catering waste from means of international transport (i.e. which has come from outside the EU) is also category 1.
Category 2 Material
Category 2 material is defined in Article 9 of the Control Regulation.
Category 2 material is also high risk; it includes fallen stock, manure and digestive tract content. Category 2 is also the default status of any animal by-product not defined in the Control Regulation as either category 1 or category 3 material.
Category 3 Material
Category 3 material is defined in the Control Regulation.
Category 3 materials are considered low risk. Category 3 materials includes parts of animals that have been passed fit for human consumption in a slaughterhouse but which are not intended for consumption. Category 3 also includes products of animal origin, or foodstuffs containing products of animal origin which are no longer intended for human consumption for commercial reasons or due to manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects that do not pose a risk to public or animal health.
Mixtures of different categories of animal by-products
Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the Control Regulation require that mixtures of different categories of animal by-products must assume the categorisation of the highest risk animal by-product in the mixture; therefore a mixture containing categories 1, 2 and 3 would be treated as category 1 material.
Disposal and use of animal by-products
The routes available for the disposal and use of animal by-products vary with the category and are listed in articles 12, 13 and 14 of the Control Regulation. In general the higher the risk category the fewer are the options for use. The detailed rules on use and disposal are found in the Implementing Regulation.
Derogations
Article 16 of the Control Regulation permits member States to avail themselves of certain derogations for the use and disposal of animal by-products.
Alternative methods
Article 20 of the Control Regulation provides for the authorisation of alternative methods for use and disposal of animal by-products.
