ARCHIVE: International trade: Importer Information Notes - Rendered fats (ABP IIN 10B)

Importer Information Note on conditions of import for rendered fats not intended for human consumption for purposes outside the feed chain (ABP IIN 10B)

1.  Scope

Rendered fats is defined in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as either fats derived from the processing of animal by-product or products for human consumption, which an operator has destined for purposes other than human consumption.

Rendered fats not intended for human consumption to be used for purposes outside the feed chain:

  • Must come from an approved country;
  • Must be accompanied by an animal health certificate.

In the case of rendered fats destined to the production of biodiesel

The rendered fats must only be derived from Category 1, 2, and 3 materials referred to in Articles 8, 9 and 10 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.

In the case of materials destined for the production of renewable fuels referred to in point J of Section 2 of Chapter IV of Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011

The rendered fats must only be derived from Category 2 or Category 3 materials referred to in Articles 9 and 10 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.

In the case of rendered fats destined to organic fertilisers and soil improvers

The rendered fats must only be derived from Category 2 materials referred to in Articles 9(c), (d) and (f)(i) and Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10, other than 10(c) and 10 (p) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.

In the case of rendered fats destined to other purposes

The rendered fats must only be derived from Category 1 materials referred to in Article 8(b), (c) and (d) and Category 2 materials referred to in Article 9(c), (d) and (f)(i) and Category 3 materials referred to in Article 10, other than 10(c) and 10(p) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.

2.  Production/processing/storage requirements

The rendered fats must have been obtained, produced and stored in accordance with the requirements of Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 9 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

The rendered fats must be processed by processing method 1 (pressure sterilisation) or in accordance with one of the other processing methods referred to in Annex IV, Chapter III of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

In the case of rendered fats from ruminant origin, insoluble impurities in excess of 0.15% by weight must be removed.

The rendered fats must be permanently marked before shipment in accordance with Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 9(d) and Annex VIII, Chapter V, point 1(b).

3.  Labelling requirements

The packaging or containers must bear labels indicating “NOT FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION”.

4.  Country of origin

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, the European Commission has drawn up a list of Third countries from which EU Member States may import rendered fats for purposes outside the feed chain.  The approved Third country list for rendered fats can be found in Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 1, Table 2, row 17 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.  Imports are only permitted from countries on the list.

In the case of fish materials:

The rendered fats must come from third countries listed in Annex II to Commission Decision 2006/766/EEC.

In the case of other materials:

The rendered fats must come from third countries listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010.

5.  Approved establishments

Rendered fats must have been prepared and stored in an establishment or plant approved, validated and supervised by the competent authority in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.

6.  EU list of approved 3rd country establishments

In accordance with Article 41.3(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 the establishment or plant producing the processed animal protein must be approved and listed on the appropriate EU list of approved 3rd country establishments. Importers should check prior to importation that the premises are listed on the correct list for the 3rd country concerned. If the establishment or plant is not listed importers are urged to contact the company concerned who should contact their competent authority immediately.  If the plant is not included on the appropriate list when veterinary checks are carried out the consignment is likely to be held and could be rejected and re-exported or destroyed.

7.  Health certification/documentation

Imports from third countries must be accompanied by a health certificate which conforms to the model laid down in Annex XV, Chapter 10(B) of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, and which is signed by an official veterinarian/inspector of the country of origin.

Please note the transitional arrangements permit the use of existing import rules/documentation provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 until 31 January 2012 provided that the accompanying documentation has been signed before 30 November 2011.

Guidance on how to complete a health certificate can be found in Annex XV of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

Consignments presented for import at the Border Inspection Post (BIP) must be accompanied by the original health certificate(s); faxed or photocopied certificates are not acceptable.

8.  New Zealand

The health certificate for New Zealand is at Annex IV of Commission Decision 2003/56/EC which should be read in conjunction with Commission Decision 2006/854/EC.

9.  Norway/Liechtenstein/Switzerland

The EU has International Agreements with Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products.  Therefore animal products from Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States.

10.  Specified risk material/TSE requirements for animal by-products derived from bovine, ovine and caprine animals

Rendered fats derived from bovine, ovine or caprine animals may need to meet the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.  These conditions are part of the certificate referred to above.

In addition, Commission Decision 2007/453/EC categorises the countries or regions, according to their BSE risk.

11.  Veterinary checks

Consignments may only be imported through an approved BIP. Following satisfactory checks at the BIP, consignments may then circulate freely within the EU. A list of BIPs is available on the Defra website. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the BIP may require that the consignment is re-exported or destroyed.

Consignments must be pre-notified in accordance with the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2006 to the relevant BIP, before arrival in the country, by completion of Part I of the Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED), or by electronic means as agreed with the BIPs competent authority.

For further guidance on products see the Defra website.

12.  Channelling of the products to an approved premises

Following the veterinary checks provided for in Directive 97/78/EC, and in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 8(4) of that Directive, the animal by-products must be transported directly from the BIP under Customs T5 procedures to a registered establishment or plant of destination, under conditions which prevent contamination.

13.  Animal feed requirements

Animal feed plays an important part in the food chain and has implications for the composition and quality of the livestock products (milk, meat and eggs) that people consume. The legislation applies principally to feed for farmed livestock, but also covers feed for horses, pets, farmed fish, zoo and circus animals and creatures living freely in the wild.  You must ensure that any imported material that could be used as animal feed complies with the relevant legislation.  The Food Standards Agency is responsible for drawing up the rules on the composition, labelling and marketing of animal feed.

Further information about these rules and guidance to compliance with them can be found on the Food Standards Agency's website.  Enquiries about its application to your particular activity should be directed to your local authority's trading standards department.

14.    Safeguard measures

Situations where emergency safeguard action has been taken, at very short notice, to prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals/products from certain countries following an outbreak of serious disease in those countries may not be covered. Importers are advised to contact Animal Health (see below) to check if any action has been taken in relation to the current status of any particular country. Details of safeguard measures can also be found in our Declarations and Customer Information Notes.

Alternatively you can keep up to date with amendments to legislation by checking the European Commission’s website.

15. European Union legislation

Consolidated texts, which integrate the basic instruments of Union legislation with their amendments and corrections in a single, non-official document, are available. Each consolidated text contains a list of all legal documents taken into account for its construction.

Texts provided in this section are intended for information only. Please note that these texts have no legal value. For legal purposes please refer to the texts published in the 'Official Journal of the European Union'.

For non-consolidated legislation, please use the simple search option on the European Commission’s website.

16.  Contact for general information on import requirements

Specialist Service Centre for Imports
Animal Health
Government Offices
Beeches Road
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 2RU
Tel: 01245 454860
Fax: 01245 351 162
E-mail: AHITChelmsford@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk

17.  Contacts for other important advice and guidance

Importers should note that the information given relates only to animal health and public health conditions of import. It does not give guidance on other conditions that may need to be met.

The information sheet below gives details of other organisations you may also need to consult.

Page published: 4 May 2004
Page last modified: 19 September, 2011