Rendered Animal Fat and Greaves

1. ‘Rendered animal fat’ is defined, in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, fat derived from rendering meat, including bones, and intended for human consumption.

2. ‘Greaves’ is defined, in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, the protein-containing residue of rendering, after partial separation of fat and water.

3. Rendered animal fat and greaves can be imported provided that it:

a) Comes from an approved country/part of a country

b) Comes from an EU approved establishment

c) Is accompanied by an agreed animal/public health certificate

4. The product must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:

a) Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption

b) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

c) Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs

d) Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin

e) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products

f) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption

1. Consignments of rendered animal fats and greaves intended for human consumption shall only be authorised for the entry into the Union if they come from the Third Countries or regions thereof authorised for the import of meat products into the Union in accordance with point (b)(i) of Article 3 of Decision 2007/777/EC.

2. Rendered animal fat and greaves must be produced in establishments approved to export to the EU:

See list here

3. Rendered animal fats and greaves must come from (an) establishment(s) implementing a programme based on the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) principles in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004.

4. Rendered animal fats and greaves must have been handled and, where appropriate, prepared, packaged and stored in a hygienic manner in accordance with the requirements of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004.

5. Rendered animal fats and greaves must comply with the requirements of Section XII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004.

6. Commission Decision 2007/453/EC categorises the countries or regions, according to their BSE risk.

7. The country of origin must also be listed for the appropriate species in Commission Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries, in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC.

8. Meat and bones derived from bovine animals must meet the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001, which lays down the rules for the prevention, control and eradication of TSEs.

9. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have international agreements with the EU which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products. Animal products from these countries must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States and are therefore not subject to veterinary checks.

10. Other Third Countries have special conditions associated with the importation of products of animal origin. Further information can be found in the following legislation relevant to that particular country:

a. New Zealand: Commission Decision 2003/56/EC; Council Decision 97/132/EC

b. Canada: Council Decision 1999/201/EC; Decision 79/542/EC

c. Japan: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/6

d. USA: Council Decision 1998/258/EC

1. Until 13 March 2020, consignments of rendered fat and greaves may enter the Union when using the certificate for meat products set out in Annex III to Decision 2007/777/EC.

Health Certificate - Meat Products (pdf 75Kb)

2. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.

1. Consignments of rendered animal fat and greaves entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.

2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.

3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.

4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.

5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.

6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list etc.

1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.

a. Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.

2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.

3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.

4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.

5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.