WRITTEN QUESTION E-2859/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 October 2002)

Subject: Processing of fats from animal waste

In the Netherlands animal waste is currently processed into meat-and-bone meal, which is then burned in large quantities. In addition to meat-and-bone meal, fats or tallow are also produced from animal waste.

1. Are the fats produced from animal waste completely free of prions?

2. Is it still permitted for such fats to be processed into animal feed, in particular milk given to young calves?

3. In France it is prohibited to use such fats in processing animal feed. Is the use of such fats in the processing of animal feed permitted in the Netherlands and in other EU countries? Because, if this is the case, BSE transmission in cattle could persist.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

1. The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC), in its opinion adopted at the SSC meeting of 28 and 29 June 2001 and updated at the meeting of 6 and 7 September 2001, concludes that there is no evidence that tallow derived from ruminant animals would constitute a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) risk. The SSC considers that possible TSE risks associated with tallow will result from protein impurities.

In the above opinion, the SSC recommends therefore additional conditions for using ruminant fat in ruminant feed. Based on that opinion, a Commission working document concerning tallow in milk replacers and other ruminant feed was prepared and discussed with the Member States. However, as in the meantime the SSC had started a quantitative risk assessment of the safety of ruminant fat, it was decided to wait for that assessment before proceeding with the document.

The following provisions are at this moment in force to prevent the transmission of TSE by fat in the feeding of farmed animals:

- pressure cooking of high-risk materials derived from ruminants and purification (total insoluble impurities max 0,15 %) of all rendered fat derived from ruminants in accordance with Council Decision 1999/534/EC(1);

- testing of all cattle intended for food above 24 (emergency slaughter) or 30 (healthy slaughtered) months old in accordance with the TSE Regulation (EC) No 999/2001(2);

- exclusion of specified risk materials in accordance with the TSE Regulation (EC) No 999/2001;

- prohibition to use certain animal by-products in animal feed: exclusion of by-products derived from certain categories of animals such as animals which have died on the farm but were not slaughtered for human consumption and animals which were killed on the farm for disease control measures in accordance with Commission Decision 2001/25/EC(3).

2. and 3. The use of ruminant fat in animal feed in accordance with the above provisions is authorised in the Union, including milk replacers intended for calves. Some Member States such as Germany, France, Austria and Portugal have imposed additional restrictions on the use of ruminant fat. The risk management measures in place will be reviewed when the SSC quantitative risk assessment becomes available.

(1) 1999/534/EC: Council Decision of 19 July 1999 on measures applying to the processing of certain animal waste to protect against transmissible spongiform encaphalopathies and amending Commission Decision 97/735/EC, OJ L 204, 4.8.1999.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, OJ L 147, 31.5.2001.

(3) 2001/25/EC: Commission Decision of 27 December 2000 prohibiting the use of certain animal by-products in animal feed, OJ L 6, 11.1.2001.