According to the European Fats Processors and Renderers Association (EFPRA), 328 million livestock and 6 billion poultry are slaughtered in the EU each year, generating a large volume of Category 3 (low risk) animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption (ABPs). Besides, a large quantity of fallen stock is annually collected from farms, which if not carrying infectious diseases, can account for almost 2.5 million tonnes of Category 2 ABPs. In total, 17 million tonnes of ABPs are yearly processed, producing more than 3.5 million tonnes of animal protein and generating wastewater with high protein content. Another source for wastewater with high protein content are rendering plants.
The ABP Regulation allows different applications for these by-products, depending on their risk category. However, in practice, Category 2 products are almost exclusively used for energy production (which is the last resort recommended by the EU’s Circular Economy strategy) or are disposed of in authorised landfills, while Category 3 products are mainly used for the manufacturing of animal feed.
