The European Commission proposed on Tuesday to streamline current European Union (EU) rules for animal by-products.
The proposal introduced clearer rules and set the general framework for more risk-proportionate requirements for animal by-products.
Thousands of slaughterhouses, farms and dairy plants across the EU produce more than 15 million tons of animal by-products every year.
A wide range of materials of animal origin are used outside the food chain for a broad range of purposes. Hides and skins are used for leather, milk powder for feeding and blood products for diagnostic tools.
The commission said there is a risk that diseases which may affect humans or animals are transmitted through such animal by-products when they are used to feed animals or to produce technical products.
The proposal aimed to improve the coherence between other EU rules and the health rules for animal by-products.
It also introduced the concept of an "end point" in the manufacturing of animal by-products after which the processed products are subject to the general rules on product safety.
For example, when animal fats from a rendering plant are further processed and the transformed product is used to produce plastics, the probability that any significant biological or viralrisk remains in the final product is remote.
"This proposal updates our existing rules on animal by-products by removing unnecessary burdens and overlaps where possible, while clarifying when other related legislation applies," said EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.
It needs approval from EU member states and the European Parliament.
Source: Xinhua
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