By-products: usage and disposal

Seafood By-Products - Usage and Disposal

Fish and shellfish waste and by-products are covered by animal by-product legislation. The original Animal By-Products Regulations were introduced in the UK to enforce European legislation on the disposal of animal by-products. The Regulations control the collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and use or disposal of animal by-products. Of particular concern to the seafood industry was the ban on landfill of animal by-products, both treated and untreated. However, under a derogation due to become permanent under the new Regulations, treated material will be able to be sent to landfill.

The Animal By-Products Regulation or EC Regulation 1774/2002 came into force in May 2003.  The aim of the legislation was to prevent any risks to public or animal health from animal by-products. The Regulation controls the collection, transport, storage, handling, processing and use or disposal of animal by-products.

The implementation of the Regulation throughout Member States was reviewed in 2004 and changes recommended to increase the flexibility of the controls proportionate to risk. Regulation 1774/2002 was replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009. This change comes into force on 4 March 2011, by which time member states will have implementing measures in place. These will increase the flexibility in disposing of shells from shellfish: those with the flesh and soft tissue removed will be exempt from the Regulation, and those with a small amount of flesh and soft tissue can be approved for uses outside of the Regulation by Defra. Shell with flesh and soft tissue attached will remain Category 3 as in the current Regulation.

There is also flexibility included for small quantities of low risk material; this material will be left under the control of Defra.

Seafish guidance

Seafish are currently working with Defra on producing guidance the interpretation of free of flesh shell and the implementing measures. These will be available here before the Regulation comes into force in March 2011.

Seafish has produced a guide to compliance with the current Regulation which can be found here.