Tallow is a fuel
(Farmers Guardian) -- AN EU proposal to recognise tallow as a fuel rather than as a waste product has been welcomed by livestock rendering plants.
Tallow is currently classified as waste under EU animal by-product regulation but the revised text says that it could be used as a fuel in the promotion of sustainable energy generation.
The news comes as a relief to the rendering industry after a three and a half year fight to re-classify tallow as a fuel.
A spokesman from the British Meat Processors Association said: “It has always been ridiculous that a perfectly viable fuel source has been disposed of as a waste product.
"This is especially important at a time when fuel costs are soaring and margins in the processing sector are getting ever tighter.”
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said that the amended by-products regulation would reduce costs and bureaucracy.
“Using tallow as a fuel creates an effective closed-loop system for re-use of some of the tallow produced in rendering plants across the country, burning with fewer emissions than heavy fuel oil.”
Industry figures have now called for a swift adoption of the proposals as they pass to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers for their approval.
Tallow is currently classified as waste under EU animal by-product regulation but the revised text says that it could be used as a fuel in the promotion of sustainable energy generation.
The news comes as a relief to the rendering industry after a three and a half year fight to re-classify tallow as a fuel.
A spokesman from the British Meat Processors Association said: “It has always been ridiculous that a perfectly viable fuel source has been disposed of as a waste product.
"This is especially important at a time when fuel costs are soaring and margins in the processing sector are getting ever tighter.”
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said that the amended by-products regulation would reduce costs and bureaucracy.
“Using tallow as a fuel creates an effective closed-loop system for re-use of some of the tallow produced in rendering plants across the country, burning with fewer emissions than heavy fuel oil.”
Industry figures have now called for a swift adoption of the proposals as they pass to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers for their approval.