Animal By Products
- Published on: 2 July 2020
- Last updated on: 10 April 2025
- What Animal By Products are
- EU Approved ABP Plants
- Trader Notices
- Schemes
- Codes of Good Practice for Poultry Litter
- What you must do
- How to apply
What Animal By Products are
Animal By Products are any part of an animal carcass or any material of animal origin not intended for human consumption. The use or disposal of Animal By Products is strictly controlled. This is to protect both public and animal health. If you deal with Animal By Products you must follow all appropriate rules and regulations.
EU Approved ABP Plants
Trader Notices
Schemes
Codes of Good Practice for Poultry Litter
What you must do
The way in which Animal By Products must be handled varies based on the type of material in question and the risk it poses of spreading disease. The rules are described in the terms and conditions when you seek approval for an activity that involves the handling or use of Animal By Products.
Industries producing Animal By Products include:
- farming
- food industry
- food processing
- dairy plants
- slaughterhouses
The types of by product include animals which die on farms, waste materials from slaughterhouses and catering waste that contains products of animal origin, whether cooked or uncooked. Only material fit for human consumption may be used for livestock and pet feed.
The regulation of Animal By Products is handled by a number of bodies:
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Responsible for most Animal By Product processing plants and the largest meat plants
- Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority: Responsible for marine Animal By Products
- Local Authority Veterinary Service: Responsible for Animal By Product issues in smaller local abattoirs
- Health Service Executive: Responsible for retail outlets such as butchers
How to apply
When you propose an activity that involves the use or handling of Animal By Products in the categories below you must seek approval by completing an application form and complying with the required terms and conditions:
- Application Form for Authorisation to Feed Milk and Milk Products
- Application Form for Authorisation to Land Spread Milk and Milk Products
- Application to Change Name of Director or Operator
- Application for Veterinary Health Certificates to Non-EU Countries
- Biogas
- Biodiesel
- Collection Centre
- Composting
- Derived Products Outside the Feed Chain
- Diagnostic, Educational/Research
- Fish Bait
- Handling/Storage
- Knackery
- Meat Feeders
- Organic Fertiliser-Soil Improver Plant
- Incineration/Combustion
- Pet Food
- Processing Plants
- Traders
- Transporters
- Type 8 Plants
- Wool Stores
- Trading in Animal By Product with EU member states