UK ministers consider lifting BSE – era ban on animal remains in chicken, pig feed

UK – The UK government is considering lifting a ban on the use of animal remains in feed for farmed chickens and pigs, a restriction that has been in place since the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. 

Ministers argue that the move could help British farmers compete with their European counterparts, who have been allowed to use processed animal protein (PAP) in feed since 2021.

A consultation on the issue has already been launched in Scotland, and similar proposals are expected to be introduced in England and Wales in the coming months. 

The ban was originally put in place in response to the 1980s and 1990s outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, which resulted in the slaughter of over four million cattle and the deaths of 178 people from its human variant, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The European Union first banned the use of mammalian PAP in cattle and sheep feed 30 years ago, later expanding the prohibition to all PAP in animal feed in 2001. 

However, under pressure from European farming groups, Brussels gradually lifted restrictions, first for fish feed in 2013 and then for chicken and pig feed in 2021.

The Scottish government has justified the consultation by arguing that lifting the ban would help “level the playing field with the EU.” 

British farmers claim they are being undercut by their European competitors, who can use PAP as a cheaper alternative to soya-based feeds.

Risk assessments conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency suggest that the likelihood of BSE or other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) re-emerging in the UK would be “very low” if PAP was reintroduced. 

Furthermore, proponents argue that allowing PAP and insect-derived protein in feed could have environmental benefits, reducing reliance on deforestation-linked soya bean imports.

However, the proposals have raised concerns among veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and consumer advocacy organisations. 

The British Veterinary Association has expressed cautious support, acknowledging the low risk of BSE but warning of potential dangers from other pathogens, such as African and classical swine flu. 

The association also stressed the importance of stringent regulations to ensure the safety of imported animal protein products.

Animal welfare organisations strongly oppose the proposals, including Animal Equality UK and Compassion in World Farming UK. 

Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, warned that consumers would be “disgusted” by the idea of feeding animal remains to livestock and questioned the wisdom of changing the rules if there is even a slight uncertainty regarding human health risks.

However, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reassured the public that “strict rules remain in place” to protect against disease and maintain the UK’s high food safety and animal welfare standards. 

“We remain vigilant to the threat posed by BSE and continue to take decisive action to build on our strong progress towards its eradication,” they stated.

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