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The new regulation is aimed at introducing more risk-proportionate rules and at clarifying the rules on animal by-products, as well as their interaction with other EU legislation.
More specifically, it includes the following provisions:
• The concept of an "end point" in the manufacturing of animal by-products is introduced, after which the processed products are no longer subject to the animal by-products regulation, as some potential risks have been eliminated for example by heat or chemical substances; instead, the general rules on product safety apply. Under the current rules, almost all material from animals which does not enter the food chain, is subject to the rules on animal by-products.
• The distinction between foodstuffs and animal by-products is clarified by confirming that operators need to make an irreversible decision, if products are destined for purposes other than human consumption. This means that once a product has become an animal by-product, it must not re-enter the food chain.
• Modification of the current classification 1 of animal by-products by comitology-procedure is allowed. In addition, certain animal by-products, which so far have been classified by default as category 2 material but which have been proven to pose no major risks, are reclassified as belonging to category 3, so as to allow their use for certain feeding purposes. For any other animal by-products which are not listed under one of the three categories, the classification by default as category 2 material is maintained for precautionary reasons.
• A registration obligation is introduced for operators who transport animal by-products, in order to strengthen traceability.
• The coherence between the regulation on animal by-products and other EU legislation (for instance the legislation on food hygiene and waste) is improved by clarifying when the appropriate legislation applies. This removes unnecessary burdens for operators (for example, approvals of slaughterhouses and dairy plants under food and feed legislation are recognised).
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/09/258&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
