Moves to reintroduce processed animal protein into pig and poultry rations have been given the green light by Defra and the Welsh Government but only once it has signed a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the European Union.
The decision has been welcomed by farming organisations, although this has been tinged with frustration by the further delay and the knowledge that the EU has allowed the use of processed animal protein (PAP) in non-ruminant rations since 2021.
Animal health and biosecurity
PAP has been banned in the UK for 38 years due to the BSE epidemic, when scientists found that feeding contaminated meat and bonemeal was one of the keyways of recirculating the disease in livestock.
The announcement follows a consultation last year and further scientific risk assessments by the Government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency on the potential impact on animal health, which indicated the overall risk of an animal in the UK being infected with a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) due to the relaxations was very low.
Feed Safety and Consumer Opinion
The proposal to allow porcine PAP into poultry feed received more than 700 responses. In response to the proposal to allow porcine PAP in poultry feed:
- 72 respondents agreed
- 614 respondents disagreed
- 46 respondents didn’t know
Supporters of PAP cite science and environmental benefits
The main reasons respondents supported the proposal were largely the same as those for supporting poultry PAP in porcine feed. Of the respondents who supported the proposal, many noted the scientific evidence behind the safety. Many respondents mentioned the potential environmental benefits of using PAP that is currently exported to reduce the reliance on imported soybean-based feed and to support a circular economy. Following the EU implementing these changes to feed controls in 2021, industry want to level the playing field with the European market.
Feed imports and market opportunity
Currently, poultry imported from the EU can be fed on porcine PAP and imported as product into the UK. A few responses also mentioned the nutritional value of porcine PAP and the economic opportunity. ABP processing plants manufacturing porcine or poultry PAP would be able to sell to a GB market for use in the production of poultry and porcine feed.
Public respondents led opposition to PAP use
Most respondents who disagreed with the proposals were members of the public. Many raised concerns about potential risk to biosecurity and public health. Many respondents were concerned about TSE risk, and some mentioned the risk from other pathogens. Many respondents opposed the changes due to ethical reasons and concerns that porcine PAP is not part of a chicken’s natural diet. Some of these respondents favoured moving towards more plant-based options and reducing reliance on animal products.
Consumer and religious perspectives
The Government also received a few responses from farmers concerned about consumer perception should this proposal be introduced, along with a few responses indicating that this proposal would affect religious dietary requirements.
Circular agriculture opportunities
Defra and the Welsh Government acknowledged respondents that disagree with this proposal for ethical reasons and concerns that porcine PAP would not form a natural part of a chicken’s diet. However, it said chickens are omnivores and inclusion rates of porcine PAP in feed in the EU are typically in the range of 5% to 10%.
It added that these changes were an opportunity for industry to utilise category 3 material for PAP – which is currently mainly exported for the pet food market – and sell it to a GB market for livestock feed. This could increase the sustainability of the industry.
Defra and the Welsh Government also acknowledged concerns around consumer perceptions of allowing porcine PAP in poultry feed and will work with industry to ensure effective communications on the safety of the proposals.
Animal health and religious concerns
Regarding religious dietary requirements, animals reared on a partially carnivorous diet may not be considered halal or kosher. Defra said it had considered how religious dietary requirements may be affected by these proposals and has reached out to halal and kosher certification authorities, who are experts in Sharia and Kashrut law.
Defra met with one of the main halal certification schemes in the UK during the consultation period. They assured us that they were able to trace products back to the feed mill to assure consumers that animal feed complies with Sharia law. We also reached out to kosher certification authorities, but we did not receive a response to the consultation. Current legislation allows porcine, poultry, and insect PAP to be used in aquaculture feed and animals reared on these diets in the EU can already be imported into the UK.
Industry Perspectives
James McCulloch, Agricultural Industries Confederation head of feed, said there was support for the amendments to allow PAP in non-ruminant diets.
McCulloch said the delays pending the securing of the SPS agreement with the EU were sensible and pragmatic “provided the UK government ensures that such alignment is introduced without unnecessary delay.”
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson said she was not surprised at the delay but expressed concern that this was part of a growing trend of Defra policy interventions being put on hold until the EU-SPS agreement is implemented, the timescale for which remains uncertain.
She said the NPA has always welcomed the return, in principle, of pig and poultry PAP, but said certain conditions would need to be met before it could be used in practice.
“The industry would need to be convinced the practice is safe and well-regulated and accepted across the supply chain and by the public. There are also various practical issues to address to make it a cost-effective solution,” she said.
