Defra and the Welsh Government have confirmed their intention to permit the feeding of pig protein to poultry and poultry protein to pigs – but any regulatory changes will be put on hold until the implementation of the UK-EU SPS agreement.
Defra has today published the response to the consultation, issued in February 2025, on changes to livestock feed controls to allow certain processed animal proteins in feed.
As well as permitting the feeding of pig and poultry processed animal protein (PAP) for the first time since it was banned as a BSE control, the proposals also included allowing insect protein in pig and poultry feed and permitting ruminant collagen and gelatine in non-ruminant feed.
These proposals were accompanied by measures to prevent cross contamination in the feed chain, including physical separation of the different production processes across the supply chain.
The changes would bring the UK into line with rules introduced in the EU in 2021. Defra pointed out that, currently, pigs and poultry imported from the EU can be fed on PAP.
Future process
In the joint response, Defra and the Welsh Government said, having considered all consultation responses, they intended to proceed with all the proposals.
“However, the government recently announced its intention to reset the UK’s relationship with the EU and pursue an SPS agreement to dynamically align with EU rules,” it said.
“Therefore, we will now not be making these changes independently and will do so instead in a future process where the UK implements an SPS agreement with the EU.”
Defra pointed out that the changes reflect the reduced incidence of BSE and increased knowledge of the disease.
“A risk assessment of the proposed changes concluded that these maintain the same level of protection of human and animal health as afforded by current controls,” it said.
“If introduced, key protections would remain in place, including the banning of PAP of ruminant origin being fed to ruminants, a requirement by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Animal by-product (ABP) regulations would still prohibit intra-species recycling.”
Ahead of implementing the changes, when they are introduced, APHA will conduct a review of the NFA to ensure the compliance monitoring programme reflects the changes.
This will include an updated guidance note on feed controls for industry explaining the legislative requirements to prevent cross contamination in the feed chain.
Defra and the Welsh Government said they will continue to work with industry to ensure effective communications to the public and across the feed chain when the changes are implemented.
A total of 736 responses were received to the consultation, 84% of which were from the general public, many of which opposed the proposals, while industry organisations and businesses generally gave qualified support.