Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/614, as already amended) in so far as they extend to England. Those Regulations (“the 1995 Regulations”) extend to the whole of Great Britain and currently make provision for the sterilisation or staining of animal by-products and for the control of the movement of such by-products.

The effect of the amendments made to the 1995 Regulations by paragraphs (2)(c), (4), (6)(a), (b), (c), (e) and (f), (7)(a) and (b)(ii), (8), (9) and (10) of regulation 2 of these Regulations is that animal by-products may no longer be sterilised. Staining is now required in all cases, except where specified in regulation 5(2), 6(2) or 7(2) of the 1995 Regulations. The effect of the amendments made to regulations 6(2) and 7(2) of the 1995 Regulations by paragraphs (6)(d) and (g) and (7)(b)(i) and (c) respectively of regulation 2 of these Regulations is that staining is not required where an animal by-product is immediately moved in the manner specified in regulation 6(4) or, as the case may be, 7(3) of the 1995 Regulations to premises approved under article 7 of the Animal By-Products Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/646, as amended) for rendering there or to other premises for incineration there in accordance with article 10 of that Order.

Regulation 2(2)(a) of these Regulations amends the interpretation provision of the 1995 Regulations by substituting for the definition denoting the Animal By-Products Order 1992 a new definition denoting the Animal By–Products Order 1999, regulation 2(2)(b) of these Regulations inserts a definition of “approved premises” into that interpretation provision and regulation 2(5) of these Regulations substitutes references to the definition denoting the Animal By-Products Order 1999 for the references to the definition denoting the Animal By–Products Order 1992 in regulation 5(2)(c) and (d) of the 1995 Regulations.

A minor amendment is also made by regulation 2(3) of these Regulations to the definition of “animal by-product” in relation 3(1) of the 1995 Regulations.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations. A copy of it has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Further copies of the assessment can be obtained from the Meat Hygiene Division (White Meat Branch) of the Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH.