Chairman's Update January 2024

The start of a new year is a fitting time to reflect on the past twelve months and to look forward to the year ahead for the ABP processing industry.

Twelve months ago FABRA UK and our members were assisting DEFRA and APHA in dealing with one of the worst ever outbreaks of Avian flu in the UK. Since then we liaised with APHA to learn from last years’ experiences to improve and streamline systems to deal with further outbreaks this winter. Thankfully,  so far this winter, the disease is being classed as low risk, although still of importance and we are ready to respond if things worsen.

Last October, FABRA UK, in partnership with the Environment Agency, organised a rendering sector awareness day,with 26 environmental regulators in attendance, with UK wide representation from the EA, SEPA, DAERA, NRW, Local Authorities and DEFRA. FABRA UK gave information on the environmental benefits of processing ABPs into sustainable, low carbon products and on how we minimise the environmental impact of our site operations. A series of rendering site visits have since followed to enable the Regulatory Officers to broaden their experience and knowledge of our sector.

Looking forward to 2024, the forthcoming review of UK BAT for preventing and minimising the environmental emissions and impacts from our industry is one of the most important challenges we face. Our sector is one of the first to go through the new UK BAT process, introduced to address BAT for UK industry after the UK left the EU. The equivalent and established EU BREF process has just concluded for the SA BREF review and FABRA representatives were involved in this with our European counterparts at EFPRA. The outcome of UK BAT will influence how our members operate their sites for years to come so it is important that we get this right.

UK Government has just launched consultations on proposed changes to energy efficiency and carbon emission schemes (CCA and UK ETS). Both affect our members who undertake energy intensive processes to safely process ABPs into useful products so the future schemes will impact on our energy efficiency and carbon reduction decisions and future investments. Our contribution to Government Net Zero targets is incredibly challenging for our sector, but we are making progress on different types of renewable energy and there is a positive future for rendered fats as renewable fuels for all types of transport. At the same time, our low carbon products assist our Foodchain customers in reducing the carbon emissions associated with their products and operations and we are seeing increased scrutiny of the carbon footprint of our products.

Changes to controls on imports to the UK have been on the agenda for some time now, with several postponements. The first phase of the new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is now scheduled to start from 31st January 2024. We hope things run smoothly and have assisted DEFRA on dealing  with animal by product derived products.

Also on the topic of animal health, DEFRA are working on the UK’s application for Negligible BSE Risk Status later this year. Meanwhile, FABRA UK is liaising with DEFRA on potential amendments to the Animal By Products Regulations to allow for non-ruminant (pork and poultry) PAP to be reintroduced into certain animal feeds. These are welcome developments that will have a positive impact for our sector and the wider food chain stakeholders and bring us closer in alignment with our EU counterparts.

 Jane Brindle
Chairman
FABRA UK

List of Acronyms

ABP – Animal By Products
DEFRA – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
APHA – Animal and Plant Health Agency
EA – Environment Agency
NRW – Natural Resources Wales
SEPA – Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
DAERA - Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – Northern Ireland
European Renderers and Fat Melters Association (EFPRA)
CCA – Climate Change Agreements
UK-ETS – UK Emissions Trading Scheme
BAT – Best Available Techniques
SA BREF – Slaughterhouses & ABP Industries Best Available Techniques Reference Document
BTOM - Border Target Operating Model
PAP – Processed Animal Protein

NEWSFLASH - Fabra UK Announce New Chairman

At last month’s FABRA UK AGM it was agreed that Jane Brindle of Leo Group will be the new FABRA UK Chairman for the next 2 years. Jane has worked for Leo Group for 11 years and has more than 20 years of experience in the meat industry prior to that.

The Board thanked outgoing Chairman Alistair Collins of JG Pears for his excellent work over the last 2 years in enhancing FABRA UK’s position as a strong and well-regarded organisation. The post Brexit period, COVID, avian influenza and the energy crisis have been extremely challenging for our industry during Alistair’s term and his knowledge, enthusiasm and experience have been invaluable in dealing with them.

Jane was unanimously approved as Chairman by the Board and will bring a wealth of experience and technical knowledge to the role to assist Adrian Kesterson (Technical Advisor) and Nikki Robertson (Administration Manager) in running FABRA UK

Update September 21 - Removal of EU prohibition on feeding non-ruminant farmed animals, other than fur animals, with protein derived from animals

The legislation reapproving the use of Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) in pig and poultry diets in the EU was published in the EU Official Journal last month and entered into force on 8th September 2021. The stakeholders across the UK livestock sector, animal feed industry, meat processors and retailers are now waiting to see if the UK Government will undertake a consultation on amending the sameprohibition adopted into UKlaw.

Read FABRA UK's updated position on the change and our thoughts on the UK doing the same.

EFPRA GFLI Carbon Footprint Results of ABP derived products now available at the GFLI

Our colleagues at EFPRA are pleased to report that their GFLI Carbon Footprint Results for products derived from animal by-products are released and available at the GFLI Website for external purposes. Here you will find an accompanying article from GFLI and the Excel file with the official Carbon Footprint Results can be downloaded. There is also a post on Linkedin.

The Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI) is an independent feed industry initiative with the vision to develop a freely and publicly available Feed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) database and tool to support meaningful environmental assessment of livestock products and to stimulate continuous improvement of the environmental performance in the feed industry.

The LCA study compared the carbon footprint of ABP derived products with imported plant-based alternatives and found that ABP derived products have much lower carbon footprints.

FABRA Template Export Health Certificate for Category 3 Rendered Animal Fat

FABRA UK has agreed a template export health certificate for its members to use for the export of Category 3 rendered fat to a EU based renewable fuel customer.

 See the EHC for Category 3 rendered fats for renewable fuel manufacture.

NEWSFLASH - New Chairman for FABRA UK

At last month’s FABRA UK AGM it was agreed that Alistair Collins of JG Pears will be the new FABRA UK Chairman for the next 2 years.

 Outgoing Chairman Steve Durrant has undertaken the role for 6 years and is retiring while Vice Chairman Stephen Bogey has stepped down from his role of the past 4 years. Their work in developing FABRA UK into a strong and well-regarded organisation was acknowledged by the Board.

Alistair was unanimously approved as Chairman by the Board and will bring a wealth of experience and technical knowledge to the role to assist Adrian Kesterson (Technical Advisor) and Nikki Robertson (Administration Manager) in running FABRA UK.

Contact Us
 If you would like to know more about this news or the work of FABRA UK, please contact Nikki Robertson:
M: 07584 022909
E: nrobertson@fabrauk.co.uk

 To contact our new Chairman:
E: alistair@jgpears.com

 To contact our Technical Advisor:
E: adrian@expirea.co.uk
M: 07845 668696

EU Exit & trading after end of Transition Period – Animal By-products & derived products

Please see below some answers to the most common questions our members and their customers have at the moment relating to the trade and movement of animal by-products and derived products.

 NOTE: The answers provided are based on our current understanding only and are subject to change. They must not be relied upon as reflecting the official UK Gov position and FABRA UK takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. See terms, conditions & disclaimer.

Q1. What tariffs will apply to rendered products for export to the EU?

WTO tariffs will apply if no FTA is reached with the EU. All depends on what the product is called or categorised as. Refer to www.WTO.org

Q2. Can I export mixed processed animal protein (PAP) to the EU if there is no deal?

At the moment the UK will be a third country so the export health certificates for 3rd countries must be used. For ruminant PAP this requires manufacture using method 1 – pressure sterilisation. See certificate at annex XV, Chapter 1 of EU142/2011 and the Border Protocol Delivery Group Border Operating Model

Q3. Can I export category 3 tallow to the EU for technical uses such as biodiesel manufacturing feedstock?

Yes but the export health certificates for 3rd countries must be used. This requires GTH marker to be added to Category 3 tallow before export. See certificate at annex XV, Chapter 10B of EU142/2011 and the Border Protocol Delivery Group Border Operating Model

Q4. Can meat & bonemeal (MBM) from the EU be sent to the UK for incineration?

At the moment it is illegal under EU law for MBM to be exported from the EU to 3rd countries for incineration.

The EU is considering amending their Regulations to allow the export of MBM outside the EU for combustion but this has not been approved yet.

If approved then the UK sites currently incinerating EU derived MBM would need to be approved / permitted under the ABP Regs and Environmental Permitting Regs for combustion of MBM.

The UK has not yet confirmed its position on whether MBM is a waste or can be considered as a fuel. See also the Border Protocol Delivery Group Border Operating Model

Q5. Can animal by-products (ABPs) be moved from Northern Ireland to GB?

ABPs would need to come from an NI registered or approved ABP premises and the consignment must be physically dispatched from those premises.

Consignments and commercial documents would be required as per current traceability systems.

Category 3 raw ABPs from NI slaughterhouses can be transported to GB directly from slaughterhouse in line with existing listing requirements for slaughterhouses..

Products of animal origin (POAO) – must have UK/NI health or ID marks where required in accordance with legislation in NI/GB.

Q6. How will the movement of Category 3 ABPs raw material from Republic of Ireland to UK be affected?

If animals raised in and transported from ROI to NI for slaughter then the animal by-products arising are deemed to be of NI origin and can be processed in NI or GB rendering facilities.

We are still awaiting confirmation of rules on movement of ABPs from ROI slaughterhouses north to NI and GB. See also the Border Protocol Delivery Group Border Operating Model

Q7. Can I move Category 3 animal by-products and feathers from NI to south?

We are still awaiting confirmation of rules on movement of ABPs from NI slaughterhouses south from NI to ROI. See also the Border Protocol Delivery Group Border Operating Model

UPDATE: A Message from FABRA UK regarding COVID-19 – Key Workers

The Foodchain & Biomass Renewables Association (FABRA UK) represents the UK animal by product processing industry. Our members play an essential role in the meat supply chain in collecting and processing annually over 2 million tonnes of animal by-products (ABPs) and fallen stock from slaughterhouses, butchers’ shops, food businesses and farmers. Thisessential part of the meat supply chain controls the bio-security risk from these materials.

In all crisis scenarios such as the COVID-19 outbreak the UK’s critical infrastructure must be maintained. Fabra UK notes that the GOV UK advice on Key Workers includes those involved in:

• food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

• waste disposal

  FABRA UK has advised GOV.UK that it is essential that animal by products continue to be collected from the meat supply chain and safely processed by approved rendering installations.

  It is FABRA UK’s understanding from discussions in the last few days with DEFRA and APHA that its members are key workers under the GOV UK Guidelines.

  FABRA UK’s advice to its members is that their workers fall within the critical key worker categories above, and they should confirm with their employees that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service to ensure the safe continuation of the meat supply chain.

  Please keep a look out for further updates on our website www.fabrauk.co.uk where you can also find our contact details and those of our members.

WRO - Coronavirus 2020

Dear colleagues,

Nearly all countries in the world are in the hand of the pandemic Corona-Virus / Corvid-19. Depending on the infection status of your country your government has already installed certain precautions to reduce the speed of the infection. They have to be respected.

In the past days WRO received some questions about rendering in Corona times and the infectivity of raw material. We want to give you as best as we can some answers in this turbulent time.

1) Rendering – will this be stopped?

The Corona pandemic is a human epidemic, that means the spread and the development is due to human-to-human transmission. Therefore many countries asked the people to stay at home, to avoid any meetings or socialising. In some areas at high risk it is already forbidden to leave the house unless you go to work, to the doctor / pharmacy or to buy food. It is a blockade of unnecessary private movements.

In all crises scenarios the critical infrastructure has to be maintained. Like the production and distribution of energy and water the production and supply of food are acknowledged as system relevant. This includes the farmers, the food and feed industry, slaughterhouses / meat processors and retailers. Renderers are part of that food producing chain.

Rendering is not only the production of proteins and fats for feed or industrial uses. It is also the collection of highly perishable, quickly biodegrading raw material. No collection or an uncontrolled disposal might be the cause of unwanted zoonoses which can then lead to another additional pandemic spread by human and animals. This scenario is even worse. Competent veterinary authorities are well aware about this.

Therefore WRO has not heard that rendering was stopped due to the Corona crisis.

Our recommendation:

• Provide the information of being system relevant to your competent authority in time to keep your plant running.

•  In case of a blockade of private movements prepare and provide the necessary documents in agreement with the competent authority that your employees belong to the system relevant infrastructure. This guarantees that they can come to work.

•  Cooperate with other associations of the whole meat-chain e.g. farmers, feed, grains (soy, corn, ...), slaughterhouses and butchers, meat processors, fish, leather, gelatine, etc. manifesting to your country’s authorities that all actors must be operational to have the Food Security guaranteed

•  If feasible, include supermarket associations to this cooperation

2) Is there a risk of infection via the raw material or products?

Many employees working in collection or production or even customers of our products might be worried whether there is a risk of transmitting Corona via animal material, either raw or processed.

WRO can answer this question only by consulting the relevant websites of the World Organisation of Animal Health, OIE, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO and the World Health Organisation, WHO.

Their answers by March 23rd are

• The predominant route of transmission of COVID-19 appears to be from human to human.

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in animals. Occasionally, people

  get infected with these viruses which may then spread to other people. For example, SARS- CoV was associated with civet cats and MERS-CoV is transmitted by dromedary camels. Possible animal sources of COVID-19 have not yet been confirmed.

• Any unusual morbidity or mortality of animals should be reported to the animal health authorities.

• Based on currently available information, trade restrictions are not recommended.

• As per general good food safety practices to protect yourself, such as when visiting live animal markets, avoid direct contact with animals and surfaces in contact with animals.

  Ensure good food safety practices at all times. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid contamination of uncooked foods and avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products.

• Meat from healthy livestock that is cooked thoroughly remains safe to eat.

• While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no

  evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread

  through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

• There is no evidence to support restrictions to movement or trade of companion animals.

• As a general practice, when caring for any kind of animals, always wash your hands before

  and after you interact with them. Avoid kissing, licking or sharing food.

•  WHO continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID-19 topics and will update as new findings are available.

But as times and knowledge change very quickly: please keep yourself updated.

So finally the three world organisations say that due to the experience with other corona infections an animal source is possible but so far no infection route is found or confirmed. Even pets, which live in very close contact with humans, are considered as safe. The named standard safety requirements about raw meat are typical for a world organisation as insanitary handling of raw meat, milk and eggs can be indeed a source of severe diseases.

What does this mean for renderers?

All staff in a rendering plant, from the truck driver to the maintenance keeper is educated in hygiene, microbiological quality standard and safety especially in those countries where dead stock collection is part of the rendering business. Disinfection is commonly used. Therefore we see no need for additional efforts regarding corona, except maybe a renewed instruction in hygiene standards. This can – if necessary - be updated on the hygiene rules given by national authorities.

If an additional disinfection routine is required, the disinfectant should be virucidal, that means it should contain an antiviral agent.

We attach a publication on Corona disinfectants to his email.

3) Are the rendered products safe?

The Corona virus is not very thermostable. It is killed in between a few minutes at 50-70 °C. That means also an unintended infection of the raw material does not pose any risk.

Our recommendation:

• Re-evaluate possible entries of cross contamination and re-infection of processed products under the new aspects and minimise them.

Despite this information from the world bodies, many countries might not react rational especially with regard to international trade. Please use these given arguments. If you face restrictions due to the Corona outbreak, please inform us about this.

Keep yourself updated by e.g. the following web pages:

https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus gives you all information including a dash board of the current cases,

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters Corona virus myth busters, very well made

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public Coronavirus disease advice for the public

https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/detail/article/covid-19-and-veterinary- activities-designated-as-essential/

http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/en/

https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/can_the_new_type_of_coronavirus_be_transmitted_via_food_and_ob jects_-244090.html The German authority for risk assessment, page available in English

International pages are also available in French, Spanish, sometimes in Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

WRO reminds you to take the national Corona restrictions seriously and to prepare yourself for the upcoming scenario. Keep your staff informed that their work is as system relevant as power stations, doctors and nurses in the hospitals or fire brigades. We are part of the whole food chain and guarantee the safe supply of animal products like meat, milk and eggs as well as safe feed. An updated instruction on hygiene is a good tool for building trust inside your team and towards customers. Communicate that our work itself, i.e. the processing and collection of raw material as well as the distribution and use of our product is safe. Any restrictions should be argued with the above mentioned points from WHO, OIE and FAO.

WRO wish you good luck, trust and faith for you, your families and colleagues in these uncertain times.

Dr. Martin Alm WRO President

A Message from FABRA UK regarding COVID-19

The situation surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) is fast-moving but we would like to reassure all our stakeholders that our members are doing everything they can to ensure that they can continue to safely provide their services for collecting animal-by-products from customers and supply derived products.

At the time of publishing this statement it is very much ‘business as usual’ for FABRA UK members in maintaining continuity for all those involved in the meat supply chain.

Our members have implemented procedures in line with GOV UK advice to reduce the risk to employees and those whom they come into contact with during their duties. Our members already have comprehensive biosecurity measures but continue to review these to mitigate risks in response to this situation.

FABRA UK will ensure that any updates from GOV UK are swiftly passed on to our members so they can be implemented as necessary. If business operations are required to change or operations are affected by other factors, FABRA UK and our members will advise our stakeholders in industry and GOV UK as soon as possible.

In particular we are keeping a close eye out for updates to GOV UK Guidance on emergency exemption and temporary relaxation of driver working hours rules in case the Covid-19 outbreak leads to a chronic shortage of drivers for our vehicles.

See also EC Guidelines attached for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services.

We note that according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), there is no evidence that food is a source or a transmission source of COVID-19.

Please keep a look out for further updates on our website www.fabrauk.co.uk where you can also find our contact details and those of our members.

NEWSFLASH Animal By-Product Derived Products Market Conditions Update Potential Impact of Brexit No Deal Scenario - UPDATE

In our July 2019 Newsflash we alerted our stakeholders of potentially significant disruption to EU market access for processed animal protein (PAP) and tallow in a No Deal scenario.

Since then we have been in frequent dialogue with DEFRA and other Gov UK representatives to understand the scale and potential wider impact of these issues and to investigate potential contingencies to mitigate the impact on renderers and the meat supply chain.

Last month we held a well-attended workshop with our meat industry stakeholders to explain the intricacies of the 3rd country export health certificate rules for these products, potential contingencies and estimated worst-case impacts on our EU exports.

An economic impact assessment of restricted EU markets for rendered products is being undertaken and we have shared the FABRA UK statistics with DEFRA and AHDB for independent scrutiny. AHDB are working with DEFRA to look at the wider impacts on the meat industry.

In the last week we have met with George Eustice MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Mr Eustice understands the importance of our industry to the meat supply chain and biosecurity and Gov UK has included our industry’s issues in their high priority issues list to address under No Deal.

We continue to look at the practical contingencies to prevent and minimise disruption to our operations and hope to be able to remain operational and maintain our service levels to the meat industry. However, lower rendered products revenue is still a concern and any deficit would need to be balanced somehow.

Depending on the Brexit outcome, this could mean changes to the collection and pricing strategies for animal by product raw material. The need for and severity of any price changes is dependent on the rendered product markets which are very fluid and on the potential level of support Gov UK is able to provide to the meat industry.

While these uncertain market conditions prevail FABRA UK may issue further bulletins and updates. Please also check our website (www.fabrauk.co.uk) for further updates.

Contact Us:

If you would like to know more about this news or FABRA UK, please contact Nikki Robertson Tel: +44(0)7584 022909
Email: nrobertson@fabrauk.co.uk

NEWSFLASH Animal By-Product Derived Products Market Conditions Update Potential Impact of Brexit No Deal Scenario July 2019

FABRA UK represents over 90% of the UK animal by product processing industry and engages and negotiates with key industry groups and other interested parties.

Over the last couple of years, we have been in discussion with Gov UK representatives from DEFRA, its Agencies and devolved Governments to prepare for potential Brexit scenarios. In the last few weeks the discussions on No Deal implications have intensified considerably as this seems more likely than ever and the UK’s EU departure date of 31st October 2019 is approaching fast.

On behalf of our members we are alerting our key stakeholders of potentially significant disruption to access into European markets for processed animal protein (PAP) and tallow. 

We are looking into practical contingencies to prevent and minimise disruption to our operations. However, we also need Gov UK to assist with solutions to address the EU import conditions that will apply to the UK as a third country under No Deal and on opening export markets for our products to other third countries.

If these issues cannot be resolved or mitigated there may be a significant fall in UK PAP and tallow prices and potential disruption to our collections of ABPs from the meat industry.

We are alerting our customers and industry stakeholders of these potential market conditions to give them advanced warning that our members may be forced to review their collection and pricing strategies for animal by product raw material. This is an industry wide issue and is not limited to individual animal by product processors.

We ask our stakeholders to pass on this information to their colleagues and members in their relevant sectors and lobby UK Gov for support in keeping the meat supply chain open for business.

 While these uncertain market conditions prevail FABRA UK may issue further bulletins and updates. Please also check our website (www.fabrauk.co.uk) for further updates.

ABP Derived Products - Market Conditions Update

FABRA UK represents more than 90% of the UK animal by product processing industry and engage and negotiate with key industry groups and other interested parties. 

On behalf of our members we are alerting our key stakeholders of major movements in the European market for processed animal protein (PPAP) and tallow:

Our members and our colleagues at the European Fat Processors & Rendering Association (EFPRA) have advised us that there is currently no European export market for PAP due to trading conditions in many of the Asian markets. Substantial stock piles of PAP are already accumulating as there is insufficient demand for this material in Europe to meet supply. Consequently, there has been a significant fall in PAP prices in recent weeks which is seriously impacting on the UK market for this commodity.

To compound this issue, we have also seen a sizeable reduction in the value of tallow, partly because of the EU reducing import duties for tallow from certain Countries. 

We are alerting our meat industry stakeholders of these changing market conditions to give them advanced warning that our members may be forced to review their pricing strategies for animal by product raw material. This is an industry wide issue and is not limited to individual animal by product processors.

We ask our stakeholders to pass on this information to their colleagues and members in their relevant sectors. Whilst these uncertain market conditions prevail FABRA UK may issue further bulletins and updates. Please check the News section of our website for further updates.

To download a PDF copy of this Newsflash - please click HERE.