PURPOSE: to propose a laying down the health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
CONTENT: The key issue of this proposal is the prohibition of recycling certain animal by-products into the feed chain, namely dead animals and condemned animal material. The only raw material allowed to be used for the production of animal feed would then be material derived from animals declared fit for human consumption. Furthermore, this proposal:
- introduces a number of alternative methods for the use or disposal of animal by-products;
- strengthens rules on controls and traceability of animal by-products;
- establishes a link with Environmental Community Legislation;
- creates a new legal framework for the animal by-products sector;
- simplifies existing Community legislation creating a consolidated legislative act dealing with all animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
With regard to the use or disposal of these animal products, alternative methods include incineration, co-incineration (i.e. burning a fuel), landfill, composting and fish ensilage, biogas, fertilisers and oleo-chemical industry. Moreover, some of these alternative methods of use or disposal allow a recovery cost. With regard to financing rules, there is a wide variety of approaches to the financial report for the processing and disposal of animal by-products. In order to avoid that this situation could affect the conditions of competition between agricultural products, the proposal establishes that a report shall be prepared by the Commission on this issue, accompanied by appropriate proposals. Finally, the proposal presents an opportunity to clarify the reltionship between the Animal Waste Directive and the Framework Directive on Waste and to create a link between the two. In conclusion, this proposal for a Regulation is an Action of the White Paper for Food Safety (Action 30).�