International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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risk of contamination with other animal diseases. This includes animals, which
die or are killed in the context of disease control measures on a farm.
Permissible disposal routes for Category 2 material include incineration, coincineration
and rendering. Provided that the material comes from wild
animals, which were not killed or did not die as a result of a disease
communicable to humans or animals, use of feed is allowed under
authorisation to recognised species of animal. Some Category 2 ABPs can also
be treated in composting or biogas plants, or can be used in oleochemical
plant.
� Category Category Category 33
3 3 material is the lowest risk category and includes material which
has previously been fit for human consumption, including catering waste, raw
meat and fish, hides and skins, animal by-products derived from the
processing of products and by-products which do not show signs of
transmissible disease. Category 3 ABPs may be disposed of by various means
including at biogas plants and composting facilities.
Catering waste is defined in the EU Regulation as ‘all waste food including used
cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens (including central
kitchens and household kitchens).
Under the EU Regulation, a composting plants is defined as follows:
‘A plant in which biological degradation of products of animal origin is undertaken
under aerobic conditions’.
Animal by-products are to be collected and transported by approved licensed hauliers
and can only be stored and processed at approved licensed facilities. The Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) must approve all premises involved in the
treatment of ABP. Pet food facilities also require a licence to operate.
Annex 5 of the Regulation requires ‘complete separation of building between a
processing plant and a slaughterhouse’. This is to ensure no cross contamination or
substitution (voluntary or otherwise) between material intended for human
consumption, material intended for animal consumption and material destined for
disposal or recovery. An approved establishment must meet the required level of
separation.
37.2 Policy Context and Reason for Introduction
The purpose of the legislation is to safeguard humans and animal health by providing
controls for the safe use and disposal of animal by-products hence avoiding
contamination of the food chain.
The scientific basis for the ABP Legislation is to prevent the risk of disease, as
epidemiological studies carried out on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE, the
dioxin scare, animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and Classical Swine
Fever have all identified animal-by products as the source. It is believed that the
outbreaks in the UK in recent years of both foot-and-mouth and swine fever were
caused by contaminated catering waste and therefore Ireland needs to ensure that all
ABP are disposed of properly.
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes