DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
INFORMATION NOTE
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR RENDERED FATS AND FISH OIL NOT INTENDED FOR
HUMAN CONSUMPTION TO BE USED AS FEED MATERIAL OR FOR TECHNICAL
PURPOSES IMPORTED FROM THIRD COUNTRIES
The following conditions as set out under Council Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 as amended by
Council Regulation (EC) 668/2004 apply to the importation of rendered fats and fish oil not intended
for human consumption to be used as feed material or for technical purposes from countries outside the
European Community.
Definitions
“Feed Material” means those feed materials, as defined in Directive 96/35/EC that are of animal origin,
including processed animal protein, blood products, rendered fats, fish oil, fat derivates, gelatin, and
hydrolysed proteins, dicalcium phosphate, milk, milk based products and colostrums.
“Rendered fats” means fats derived from processing Category 2 or Category 3 material.
“Technical Products” means products derived directly from certain animal by-products, intended for
purposes other than human or animal consumption, including tanned and treated hides and skins, game
trophies, processed wool, hair, bristles, feathers and parts of feathers, serum of equidae, blood products,
pharmaceuticals, medical devices cosmetics, bone products for china, gelatin and glue, organic
fertilizers, soil improvers, rendered fats, fat derivatives, processed manure and milk and milk based
products.
Requirements For Rendered Fats And Fish Oil Not Intended For Human Consumption To Be
Used As Feed Material Or For Technical Purposes
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Rendered fats and Fish Oil intended to be used for animal feed or technical products, must
consist of Category 3 material only as listed in Article 6(1) points (a) to (j).
Unless the rendered fats have been produced in accordance with Chapter II of Annex C to
Council Directive 77/99/EEC, or Chapter 9 of Annex I to Council Directive 92/118/EEC,
rendered fats must be produced using Methods 1 to 5 or Method 7, and fish oils may be
produced using Method 6, as referred to in Chapter III, Annex V.
Rendered fats derived from ruminants must be purified in such a way that the maximum level
of remaining total insoluble impurities does not exceed 0.15% in weight.
Importation of Animal By-Products
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Importers of rendered fats are required to be registered with the Department of Agriculture
and Food. Application forms may be sourced from the Department Website at
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=animal_products/importation/forms.xml or by
contacting Animal Product Import Section at:
Animal Product Import Section, Food Safety Liaison Division, Department of
Agriculture and Food, Agriculture House 7 West, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 (Ph
01-6072896 & Fax 01- 6072513)
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Importation must be through an EU Approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) and at least 24
hours notice of intent to import must be given to the BIP at which it is intended to import of
Rendered fats or Fish Oil into the EU by means of a completed and signed part 1 of the
Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED), (Annex III Commission Regulation (EC) No
136/2004) Photocopied versions will not be accepted. Form are available on request from:
o Animal Product Import Section (contact detail as above)
o EU Approved Border Inspection Posts as follows:
Dublin Port, Portal Veterinary Office, Eirfreeze, Bond Road, Dublin 3,
Phone No 01- 8556250, Fax 01-8363457
Shannon Airport Portal Veterinary Office, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare,
Phone No 061-471546 Fax 061- 471549
A veterinary inspection fee will be levied by the BIP.
Health Certification
Rendered Fats and Fish Oil not intended for human consumption to be used as feed material or for
technical purposes must:
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Be accompanied in the case of rendered fats by, a health certificate that conforms to the model
set out in Chapter 10(A) of Annex X of 1774/2002 as amended by 668/2004 (see page 63).
Be accompanied in the case of fish oil by, a health certificate that conforms to the model set
out in Chapter 9 of Annex X of 1774/2002 as amended by 668/2004 (see page 61).
Have undergone all precautions to avoid contamination with pathogenic agents
Be packaged in new packaging to prevent any leakage.
Approved Country
Rendered Fats not intended for human consumption to be used as feed material or for technical
purposes must only come from:
 Third Countries listed in Part IV of Annex XI. (Part I of Annex II to Council Decision
79/542/EC).
Rendered fats derived from swine raw material may only come from a country or part of a country free
from foot and mouth disease for the previous 24 months and free from classical swine fever and
African swine fever for the previous 12 months.
Rendered fats derived from poultry raw material may only come from a country or part of a country
free from Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza for the previous 6 months.
Rendered fats derived from ruminant raw material may only come from a country or part of a country
free from foot and mouth disease for the previous 24 months and free from Rinderpest for the previous
12 months.
Where there has been an outbreak of the above mentioned diseases during the relevant period, the
rendered fat must have subjected to one of the heat treatment processes mentioned in 2(iv) Chapter IV
of Annex VII.
Fish Oil not intended for human consumption to be used as feed material or for technical purposes must
only come from:
 Third Countries listed in Part III of Annex XI (Annex to Commission Decision 97/296/EC)
Regard must be had to the animal species the particular third countries listed in 79/542/EEC have been
approved for export as well as any Safeguard Decisions in place banning or controlling the import of
animal products due to animal disease outbreaks.
Approved Plant
Rendered fats and Fish Oil not intended for human consumption to be used as feed material or for
technical purposes must come from processing plants that the competent authorities of the third country
have approved and registered (Article 29(4)).
Rendered fats must have been prepared and stored in a plant approved, validated and supervised by the
competent in accordance with Article 17 and where appropriate Article 11 or in accordance with
Chapter II of Annex C to Council Directive 77/99/EC or Chapter IX of Annex I to Council Directive
92/118/EC.
Fish Oil must have been prepared and stored in a dedicated fish plant approved, validated and
supervised by the competent authority in accordance with Article 17 and where appropriate Article 11.
Transportation & Labelling
The vehicle/container, carton or other packaging must be identified by a label indicating:
 The category of material from which the product was derived
 The words “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION”
The consignment must be transported in a sealed container directly from the point of entry to the
technical plant of destination.
Food Safety Liaison Division
June 2006
DISCLAIMER
While every attempt is made to keep this information note current, import conditions
may change and importers are responsible for checking the current status of the
requirements. Safeguard measures, which prohibit imports from countries affected by
animal diseases or other public or animal health hazards can prohibit or restrict import
at very short notice.
Alternatively you can keep up to date with amendments to legislation by checking the
Commission Website. http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm