Scientific Opinion on the Neste Oil Application for a new alternative method of disposal or use of Animal By‐Products

EFSA's Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked for a scientific opinion on a novel process developed by the Neste Oil Company as a safe means of disposal of animal by‐products (ABP) according to Regulation (EC) 1774/2002. It is proposed that the method, known as the “Renewable Fuel” method, will be used for the treatment and disposal of Category 1 and Category 2 rendered animal fat obtained from animal by‐products that have been produced according to processing method 1 as referred to in Annex V, Chapter III of Commission Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 and for the treatment of Category 3 rendered animal fat that has been produced according to any of the processing methods 1 to 7 as referred to in the same Annex. The proposed process technology consists of a pre‐treatment and of a continuous multiple step catalytic process. The main steps of interest for this assessment are called hydrodeoxygenation and isomerisation by the applicant. The production process can utilize a mixture of vegetable‐oil and animal fat as feedstock. The Panel concluded that, in principle, the “Renewable Fuel” method may be appropriate for the safe destruction of BSE/TSE infectivity in animal waste. However, the company provided minimal data to support this conclusion (e.g. no quantitative estimate of the risk reduction level for Cat. 1 material was given). In the absence of such supporting data, the “Renewable Fuel” method cannot be considered safe for the treatment of such Category 1 wastes. The process proposed by Neste Oil can be considered to be safe for the treatment of Cat. 2 and 3 rendered animal fat since the input materials have already undergone a process ensuring adequate risk reduction.