Animal by-products: Catering waste - Questions and answers
- Q1. When was the domestic ban on swill feeding waste food to pigs introduced?
- Q2. Why was the ban introduced?
- Q3. What legislation now prohibits catering waste from being fed to animals?
- Q4. Why have Germany and Austria been granted a 4-year transitional period permitting the continued use of swill feeding?
- Q5. What is the definition of catering waste?
- Q6. What are the permitted disposal routes for catering waste?
Disposal
- Q7. Can you spread Category 3 catering waste on land with farmed animals present?
- Q8. Can you inject catering waste into land?
Q1. When was the domestic ban on swill feeding waste food to pigs introduced?
On 24 May 2001 a national ban on the swill feeding of waste food containing meat was introduced as an emergency measure during the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak when there was a risk that foot and mouth virus could be in circulation in the meat.
Q2. Why was the ban introduced?
Before the 2001 outbreak, the risk of swill feeding accidentally promulgating FMD came from imported infected meat products. Following the outbreak, however, there was a much greater risk of infectivity from domestically produced meat used in swill and the introduction, therefore, of S.I. 2001/1704 was to reduce the risk of spreading FMD.
The independent Anderson enquiry, into the handling by the Government and its officials of the FMD outbreak, supported the introduction of a ban on swill feeding and recommended the continuation of the ban.
The Spongiform and Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) have also
recommended that all intra-species recycling should be avoided to prevent
the risk of a TSE being spread through recycling in animal feed.
Q3. What legislation now prohibits catering waste from being fed to animals?
The Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 prohibits catering waste from being fed to farmed animals. This applies in all EU member states and applied from 1 May 2003.
Q4. Why have Germany and Austria been granted a 4-year transitional period permitting the continued use of swill feeding?
The UK, and most other Member States, argued against any delay in the introduction of the EU wide ban on swill feeding. However, to secure adoption of the Regulation both Germany and Austria have been granted a 4 year transitional period in which to phase out swill feeding. The controls to apply during this period have been subsequently proposed by the European Commission.
Q5. What is the definition of catering waste?
Catering waste means all waste food including used cooking oils originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens, including central kitchens and household kitchens'. This definition also includes catering waste from vegetarian restaurants and kitchens.
Catering waste is controlled by the Regulation if it:
• comes into the Community from a means of transport operating internationally;
• is destined for animal consumption (the Regulations make it an offence to feed livestock, or allow them access to, catering waste) or
• is destined for use in a biogas plant or for composting (in which case the biogas and composting plants must be approved under the Regulations. International catering waste may not be treated in these plants);
• if catering waste is disposed of to landfill or incineration,
it is not controlled by the Regulations providing it is handled in a way
that ensures that livestock do not have access to it.
Q6. What are the permitted disposal routes for catering waste?
TThe Animal By-Products Regulation has not changed the rules governing the use of landfill or incineration to dispose of catering waste. Therefore, it continues to be permitted for restaurants, food factories and other catering outlets, and for collectors of waste from such premises, to dispose of the catering waste in this way. However, the Regulation allows composting or biogas providing these premises are approved under the ABP Regulation.
Disposal
Q7. Can you spread Category 3 catering waste on land with farmed animals present?
Under our national implementing rules, it is an offence to allow 'livestock' to have access to catering waste. However, if catering waste is treated or processed in accordance with the Animal By-Products Regulation it can be brought onto premises where livestock are present but it cannot be made available to feed any ruminant animal, pig or bird. Statutory non-grazing periods must be observed once processed catering waste is applied to pasture land. Under TSE legislation processed catering waste containing animal proteins must first be incorporated into a fertiliser or soil improver product in order to be present on a livestock premises. It must also be stored and handled separately from feed, and farmed animals must not be allowed access. Application to land must be in accordance with environmental legislation on waste management administered by the Environment Agency.
Q8. Can you inject catering waste into land?
Yes, providing there is no chance of livestock (all farmed animals and any other ruminant animals, pigs and birds) being given access to this land and injection is in accordance with environmental legislation on waste management administered by the Environment Agency.
Page last modified: 9 June, 2008