EU Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009

Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 is the basis of the European Union’s legal framework regarding the management of animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption. This regulation aims to protect public and animal health – it establishes comprehensive health rules for the handling, shipping, processing and disposal of such materials. Together, these regulations form a solid framework for the management of animal by-products in the EU, ensuring safety, public health protection and environmental sustainability.

Key elements of Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 include:

• Scope and objectives: The regulation applies to animal by-products and derived products that are excluded from human consumption. Its main objective is the prevention and minimization of risks to public and animal health and the protection of the environment.

• Categorization of animal by-products:

  • Category 1: Materials posing the highest risk, including specified risk materials, animals suspected of being infected with transmissible diseases and products containing residues of prohibited substances.

  • Category 2: Medium-risk materials such as fertilizers, digestive tract contents and animals that have died from causes other than by slaughter for human consumption.

  • Category 3: The lowest risk materials, including parts of animals that have been slaughtered and are fit for human consumption, but are not intended for human consumption for commercial reasons.

• Handling and processing requirements: Strict guidelines are set for the collection, identification, shipping and storage of animal by-products to prevent contamination and ensure their traceability. Processing standards ensure that materials are effectively treated to inactivate pathogens, through methods such as rendering, composting, biogas production and incineration.

• Traceability and documentation: Comprehensive documentation and record-keeping requirements ensure traceability of animal by-products from their origin to final disposal or use. Commercial documents and health certificates must accompany shipments and detail the nature of the materials and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Use and disposal: The regulation specifies permissible uses for products from animal by-products, such as technical use, pet food, organic fertilizers and biogas production. It also requires the safe disposal of high-risk materials through methods that effectively eliminate potential risks.