Processing and disposal of animal by-products and side-products at slaughter

Animal by-products arise from animal husbandry or slaughter of animals. While offal is considered as an edible product this is not the case for animal by-products. Animal by-products include whole animal bodies, parts of animal bodies, killed or died animals or products thereof which are by definition not intended for human consumption. Animal by-products must be separated clearly from food. Further on the decision of the food business operator to label a product as "not intended for human consumption" is irreversible. Certain parts are by law already defined as "unfit for human consumption" or not intended for human consumption like meat in striking distance to the bleeding area or contaminated meat. In addition to these provisions animal health regulations are to be met. The regulation concerning specific risk material (SRM) requires that SRM has to be stained blue and incinerated as material of category 1. Also material which is not intended for human consumption may pose a risk for human or animal health. This became apparent during crises in relation to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, the spread of ESE and the occurrence of Dioxins in feed. In all cases a dramatic impact on the confidence of the consumer on the safety of the food and feed chain became obvious due to the incorrect use of particular animal by-products. Therefore possible risks of such products are minimized under strict conditions as a precondition for their use in another context or the products are rendered harmless. In the light of sustainability it seems not reasonable to dispose all animal by-products.