The Animal By-Products Regulation 2003 was issued by European Commission and covers all raw and cooked meat and fish and meat and fish products.  Raw meat and fish could not be landfilled from the date of issue 1 July 2003 (England).  Cooked meat and fish and meat and fish products have a transitional period until 31 December 2005, this allows cooked meat and fish material to be landfilled and after this date other forms of disposal will need to be found.

Cooked meat and fish products fall under a number of categories and different areas of the food industry are affected.

Former Foodstuffs

Former foodstuffs (see list at end) means “former foodstuffs of animal origin, or former foodstuffs containing products of animal origin other than catering waste, which are no longer intended for human consumption for commercial reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects which do not present any risk to humans or animals”. (Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by-prods/FormerFoodstuffs/guidance_dispffs.pdf)

Catering waste is all food waste including used cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens including central kitchens and household kitchens.  This material can be landfilled after the transitional period deadline 31 December 2005.

Fruit and vegetables (no contamination with meat or meat products) can go to landfill after the transitional period 31 December 2005.

Production of ready to eat foods (those that do not require cooking before eating) sandwiches, pork pies, including scraps and dustings from production lines are regarded as former foodstuffs of animal origin.

Waste from productions of products that contain raw meat and/or raw fish and require cooking does not benefit from the transitional period and cannot be landfilled.

Butchers and Fishmongers

Raw meat and raw fish cannot go to landfill.  Such waste needs to be held in a separate holding area and collected regularly and disposed of under the regulations.

Markets

Meat and fish sold at market stands whether cooked or raw is also subject to the legislation, so raw material cannot be landfilled.  Separate cooked waste ‘former foodstuff of animal origin’ is permitted to go to landfill until 31 December 2005.

Large Retailers and Supermarkets and Food Distributors

These businesses stock large amounts of raw meat and raw fish which is not permitted to be disposed of to landfill.  Cooked meat and fish foods may be disposed of to landfill until 31 December 2005.

Convenience Stores

Most convenience stores stock some raw meat and fish and meat and fish products to which the legislation still applies.

Bakers

Bakers and bread shops frequently sell a range of meat products including sausage rolls, meat pies and pasties.  As these products are ready to eat without further cooking, disposal to landfill until 31 December 2005 is acceptable.

Defra are negotiating with the EU on how cakes, confectionary and products containing eggs and honey will be affected.  Until this decision is resolved the transitional period applies.

Wholesalers – Cash and Carry Outlets

If raw meat and fish is handled the trimmings and waste must be disposed of as animal by-products the same as for other butchers and fishmongers.  Cooked meat and fish can go to landfill till 31 December 2005.

Former Foodstuffs include:

• Meat and fish and meat and fish products, that are fully pre-cooked.
• Cooked meat and cooked fish items cooked cocktail sausages and frankfurters (ready to eat or ready for re-heating).
• Dips for cooked meat or fish.
• Ham including Parma and Serrano, salami and pate, etc.
• Cooked prawns, dressed crabs and lobsters, seafood sticks, cooked mussels (ready to eat).
• All ready meals (i.e. meals ready for re-heating where the meat or fish is already cooked), e.g roast dinners, tuna (raw) in sauce with noodles, toad-in-the-hole, tortellini carbonara, ravioli, lasagne, micro-waveable packs of cooked chicken and fish.
• Pies and pasties including ocean pie and shepherd’s pie where the meat is pre-cooked.
• Raw items that are eaten without further cooking, e.g. without further cooking e.g smoked salmon, sushi, Bresaola and beef jerky.