Introduction of animal by-product rules
LEGISLATION which will give effect to new controls on animal by-products in England has today been laid before Parliament. The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 (SI No 2003/1482) have been made and are due to come into force on 1 July 2003.
The EU Animal By-Products Regulation is directly applicable in the UK. The national Regulations will not repeat its provisions, but will enforce the Regulation by providing for the offences, powers of entry and similar provisions needed to apply the Regulation. It will also introduce national standards for the treatment of catering waste in composting and biogas plants. Consultation on the Regulations was initiated on 27 January 2003.
The responses to consultation focussed on three main issues -
(a) the proposed national standards to allow the treatment of
catering waste in composting and biogas plants;
(b) the disposal of fallen stock following the ban on routine
burial or burning; and
(c) the disposal of former foodstuffs from retail outlets and food
manufacturing premises.
In all areas, Defra has been working with stakeholders to address the issues of concern. As a result -
(a) Defra considers that the national standards for the treatment of catering waste in composting and biogas now safeguard animal and public health while ensuring that the controls are not unduly onerous or costly.
(b) Farmers have been asked for expressions of interest in subscribing to a national collection for fallen stock. A separate news release on this issue is expected shortly.
(c) In the light of discussions with food manufacturers and retailers Defra has secured a transition period to allow most former foodstuffs to continue to go to landfill until the end of 2005. Animal Health Minister Elliot Morley has met with representatives of the food manufacturing industries and food retailers and agreed to establish a Task Force to ensure that the transitional arrangements are implemented in a proportionate manner and that the transition period is used to move from the use of landfill to dispose of former foodstuffs, to alternative outlets such as biogas, composting and rendering plants.
