Food ILOs Summary Quiz (1)

Animal By-Products (ABP)

• ABP refers to any part of an animal, or product of animal origin, not intended for human consumption

ABP Categories

• Category 1 contains high-risk materials
• Skulls, brains, spinal cords of cattle over a certain age, entire bodies of animals with TSE, and animals treated with prohibited substances fall under this category
• These materials must be incinerated and stained with blue dye
• Category 2 is for medium-risk materials
• Carcasses and parts causing a health risk, post-mortem rejects with disease lesions (TB, septic arthritis), and manure and non-ruminant digestive tract contents are included
• These must be stained with black dye and safely disposed of
• Category 3 is for low-risk ABPs, which includes parts of animals slaughtered for consumption but not used
• Examples are hides, hooves, feathers, and degreased bones
• These are suited for pet food, technical applications, composting, or biogas production

ABP Category Definition Rationale

• Risk-based classification helps determine handling, processing, and safe disposal methods
• Preventing disease transmission is key
• High-risk materials could carry pathogens, TSEs (like BSE in cattle), or harmful residues
• Categorization ensures safe materials are not inappropriately reused in the food chain
• Compliance with legislation is achieved through ABP categorization
• Authorities can enforce legal disposal methods like incineration or pet food production, and categorization is required under The Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations 2013 and EU regulations (EC 999/2001) to establish controls
• Environmental protection is ensured
• Proper categorization facilitates responsible disposal methods like biogas production and composting, minimizing risks like soil and water contamination
• Fraud prevention and food chain integrity are maintained

ABP Disposal Methods

• Category 1 materials require incineration at a licensed facility
• Followed by rendering at a licensed Category 1 plant and deep burial in a specially approved landfill
• These materials must be stained with blue dye before disposal
• Category 2 ABPs require incineration at a licensed facility, rendering at a licensed Category 2 plant for non-food purposes, composting or biogas production (for manure and digestive tract contents
• The application to land is for manure and digestive tract contents with restrictions, and these materials must be stained with black dye
• Category 3 ABPs require incineration or rendering at licensed facilities
• They also require pet food processing (if processed at a licensed plant), technical applications (leather, gelatin, cosmetics, fertilizers), composting or biogas production at licensed facilities, or landfill disposal for certain low-risk materials

Special ABP Disposal Cases

• Burial/Burning is allowed in Remote Areas: in specific regions where other methods are impractical
• Some Category 2 and Category 3 materials can be fed to zoo animals, birds of prey, and hounds under strict conditions at Zoos and Circuses
• Education and Research is authorized for ABP use for diagnostic, teaching, and research

Antemortem Inspection Purpose

• Identification of Slaughter Fitness by ensuring that animals are healthy, fit for slaughter, and free from diseases or conditions that would make their meat unsafe for consumption
• Only an Official Veterinarian (OV) can conduct this inspection
• Detection of Notifiable Diseases, recognizing diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease or Swine Vesicular Disease that require reporting
• Checking for welfare issues, including transport stress, injuries, or violations of welfare laws such as EC 1099/2009 is involved in Assessing Animal Welfare
• Animals are selected for residue sampling or other specific disease tests through Identification for Specific Tests
• Assessing Cleanliness based on cleanliness categories to determine if they require special handling before slaughter
• Confirming Animal Identity by verifying identification records (e.g., ear tags, passports) for traceability and compliance with regulations like the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007

Antemortem Inspection Procedures

• This inspection happens within 24 hours of arrival and no more than 24 hours before slaughter, and is done in Lairage
• In general, the animals are observed at rest and in motion to detect signs of distress or neurological issues in Behavior & Movement
• Respiration & Posture and Physical Condition are observed for injuries and any abnormal swellings
• Documentation and Identification, including ear tags and passports, are reviewed

Other Observations

• Food Chain Information (FCI) Records are checked for the animal's previous treatments, diseases, and withdrawal periods for the medications
• Specific visual examinations for external signs of infectious diseases are conducted for Specific Diseases/Abnormalities
• Neurological Symptoms like BSE are checked for in cattle
• Symptoms of legally reportable notifiable diseases are checked for
• Category 1 & 2 are clean and suitable for slaughter, while 3 requires intervention and 4 is rejected from normal slaughter for Cleanliness Assessment
• Notifiable diseases are reported to the authorities, who enforce movement restrictions

Slaughter Regulation

• Animals proceed to slaughter if no concerns are present
• A document update including all rejected animals and the justification is recorded
• If further examination or rejection becomes necessary, samples are taken for laboratory testing

Legislation

• Ensure animals are fit for transport and meet welfare standards via the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006
• Designates Animal Welfare Officers (AWO), Prohibits inhumane handling/slaughter practices, and requires humane stunning in the EC(1099/2009) on The Protection of Animals at the time of Killing
• The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) Regulations 2015 Implements stunning, slaughter, and handling mandates

Welfare Standards

• Fitness for Transport includes standing independently with no injuries, exhaustion, or disease as Transport Indicators
• Vehicle Conditions must implement proper flooring and space as well as ramp angles at Maximum 20 degrees for pigs and 26.5 degrees for cattle and sheep
• Thermal stress must be reduced to avoid heat or cold stress
• Alertness & Responsiveness levels must be normal, because lethargy may be an issue in Physical Indicators
• Fatigue & Exhaustion levels may indicate stress, and are indicated by sunken eyes or dry mouth

Transport Conditions

• Animals should be fit for transport and meet welfare standards as Transport Indicators
• Overcrowding should be avoided
• Separation and Mixing must be controlled, and periods of up to 48 hour must be allowed in Lairage

Animal Welfare Conditions

• Animals must be fit for transport and unfit animals include those who are lame, pregnant, or emaciated
• Overcrowding should be avoided for stress and safety concerns, and space allowances must be followed
• Bruising can occur because of handling issues
• Head injuries and/or tail injuries can be a concern
• Noise and Vibrations must be considered
• Stress must be reduced with Proper Ventilation, Water, etc

Safe Handling Standards

• Checks for the animal's fitness before transport are standard and essential
• Transporting young or injured animals is prohibited
• Animals should be free of stress

Transport Regulations

• A record and check for identification are standard regulations that must be verified
• Short journies can only extend up to 8 hours
• Drivers need to have certification and unload resources and other water
• Poultry can only travel for 12 hours

Vehicle Standards

• Space regulation are standard
• Poultry is set at birds 160 cm / broiler chicken
• Vehicles temperature must be within 30 degrees celcius