Marker for animal by-products

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (icon) lays down rules for the safe use of animal by-products that are fit - but not intended for - human consumption. It sorts animal by-products into three categories according to the associated risk, and requires that materials of different categories are kept separated during collection, handling and transportation. Furthermore, products derived from category 1 and category 2 need to be permanently marked, because they must not enter the feed and food chain. The ideal marker would be visible and detectable by its olfactory properties, non-toxic, safe for handlers, commercially available, inexpensive, stable, recoverable and easy to analyse. It would ensure identification and traceability of products to be disposed of and eliminate risk of fraud.

Selecting a marker

The Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection asked the JRC to evaluate the characteristics of substances that may be suitable for this purpose. The JRC proposed glycerol triheptanoate (GTH) as a chemical marker. It meets the requirements of the legislation, and in addition, could be used in the animal by-product industry as it withstands extreme sterilisation conditions.

Validating the use of GTH in the rendering plants

An implementation study at ten European rendering plants was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the marker system in practical circumstances. The study was carried out in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection, the Member States’ representatives and the rendering and fat melting industry. One of the tasks of JRC-IRMM was to analyse the samples collected from the rendering plants.

The results of the implementation study demonstrated that GTH added in rendering plants is a suitable marker for animal by-products from category 1 and 2.

Report:
Boix, A., Serano, F., Bellorini, S. and von Holst, C., Implementation study to evaluate glyceroltriheptanoate (GTH) as a maker for animal by-products in rendering systems (icon 3656KB )

New Commission Regulation on marking and transport of animal by-products

Based on these results, Regulation (EC) No 1432/2007 was issued on the 5th December 2007 amending Regulation EC-1774/2002 as regards the marking and transport of animal by-products. This regulation entered into application on the 1st July 2008. As from that date processed animal by-products (meat and bone meal and fat) need to permanently marked with GTH at the rendering plants.


A method for the detection of GTH processed products from Category 1 and Category 2 materials

In the frame of the implementation study, JRC-IRMM developed a method for the detection of GTH in meat and bone meal (MBM) and rendered fat. The method is based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and has been successfully validated via a collaborative study.

Determination of glyceroltriheptanoate (GTH) in processed animal by-products by gas chromatography - 5th edition  (icon 2222KB )

Validation of an Analytical Method for the Determination of Glyceroltriheptanoate (GTH) in Processed Animal By-Products (icon 6059KB )




Last Update 26/02/2010