Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs)

Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) are a healthy, sustainable and safe feed ingredient made from Category 3 animal by-products. They are used in livestock feed, aquafeed and petfood in Europe as well as being exported internationally.

Animal feed

In Europe, Category 3 PAPs from pigs can be used in poultry feed, and Category 3 PAPs from poultry can be used in pig feed. Rendered fat is also used in feed

Inclusion rates are typically in the range of 5–10%. PAPs contain many essential nutrients and amino acids that are beneficial for animal welfare and development.

Sustainable

Healthy

Safe

Nutritional and sustainability benefits

In 2021, EU legislation changed to permit the use of PAPs in pig and poultry feed. Read EFPRA's in-depth analysis about nutritional benefit of PAPs and their successful reintroduction into compound feed.

Promoting circularity in EU feed

By Leo Towsend | 11 July 2025

Livestock feed production is an example of the circular economy in action. Secondary resources that are not used in human food are included in feedstuffs, returning energy and nutrients to the food chain. However, there are opportunities for better valorisation of several by-products in feed to improve the sustainability and circularity of the EU food […]

Success using PAP in livestock feed

By Leo Towsend | 24 February 2025

In September 2021, the European Union partially lifted the feed ban for PAP (Processed Animal Protein). Allowing the use of poultry PAP in pig feed and porcine PAP in poultry feed, intra-species consumption remains prohibited. The use of both types of PAP has been permitted in aquaculture since 2017. To avoid possible cross-contamination, there are […]

Research summary of PAPs in poultry diets

By Leo Towsend | 8 April 2024

Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs) were banned from diets of farmed animals in the EU for approximately 20 years. During this time processing techniques for animal proteins have changed and improved. Consequently, the specifications of products in feedstuff tables do not accurately represent the composition and quality of available PAPs. Amendments to the feed ban came […]

Summary of research on PAPs in pig diets

By Leo Towsend | 8 April 2022

Aquafeed

Salmon is the main fish reared by European aquaculture producers. It is a carnivorous fish that eats insects, aquatic inverterbates and smaller fish in the wild. PAPs are a suitable feed ingredient to replace these sources of protein in an aquaculture diet.

Aquafeed has included non-ruminant PAPs since 2013. They have a better nutritional profile than vegetable proteins and reduce demand for fishmeal from caught wild fish. Rendered fats are also used in aquafeed.

Pet food

Around half of all households own a pet. Many common pets including cats and dogs are naturally carnivorous so need a diet that is rich in protein.

PAPs have excellent nutrition and flavour for pet food. As PAPs come from by-products they have a low carbon footprint compared to meat and some vegetable sources of protein such as soya from recently deforested areas. For environmentally conscious pet owners, this is an important benefit of feed containing PAPs.

Rendered fat is also used in pet food and help ensure that pets have a safe, healthy and nutritious diet.

Frequently asked questions about PAPs

WHAT ARE PAPs?

WHERE ARE PAPs USED?

ARE PAPs SAFE FOR ANIMALS TO EAT?

Yes, PAPs are made from Category 3 animal by-products that originate from healthy animals. All Category 3 material is classed as fit for human consumption at the point of slaughter. Sourcing and processing PAPs is always under veterinary control to ensure safety all the way along the supply chain. Pets, carnivorous or omnivorous fish such as salmon or shrimps, and omnivorous animals – pigs and poultry – require a diet with rich protein sources to thrive.

IS IT NATURAL FOR ANIMALS TO EAT PAPs?

Rules and regulations for PAPs

WHAT RULES ARE THERE ON USING PAPs IN THE EU?

WHAT WERE THE CHANGES TO THE RULES ON USING PAPs IN THE EU IN 2021?

WHY DID THE EU COMMISSION DECIDE TO CHANGE THE REGULATIONS ON PAPs IN 2021?

The European Commission and Member States have always stated that measures for the eradication of BSE must be regularly evaluated and adapted due to risk and new control tools. European Animal By-Products Regulations state that PAPs must be safely sourced and produced. The industry has installed a range of innovations and quality control systems to guarantee product quality and safety. A positive side effect is that the revised regulations can contribute to a circular economy and the EU Green Deal.

Sustainable: Using PAP’s helps to build a circular economy in Europe and contributes to the Green Deal. Safe animal by-products will not go to waste. European feed producers and farmers are less dependent on alternatives such as imported soy from rain forest areas which is often associated with intensive land use change and less sustainable.

Safe: PAPs are safely sourced and processed from safe category 3 animal by-products. Modern tracking, tracing and quality control systems (HACCP) ensure safety at every stage. On top of this, sourcing, transporting and processing PAPs are under full veterinary control.

Healthy: The nutritional rich ingredients contribute to the development, growth and health of livestock and nutritional studies showed added animal welfare benefits.

WHAT RULES ARE THERE ON USING PAPs IN THE UK?

The UK’s Animal By-Products regulations implement the EU ABP Regulations and are retained as of the point the UK left the EU. EU Regulation 1069/2009 and 142/2011 set out health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption. EU Regulation 999/2001 sets rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The rules which prevent the feeding of PAPs to farm animals is often referred to as the ‘feed ban’ and remains in UK law because the EU’s changes to their rules on PAPs for feed came after we left the EU.

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UK RULES ON USING PAPs?

What are the proposed changes to the UK rules on using PAPs?

There is currently a consultation about amending the UK feed ban to allow poultry PAPs to be used in pig feed, and porcine PAPs to be used in poultry feed. A similar amendment was successfully made to EU legislation in 2021. Bringing UK legislation in line with Europe will create a level playing field for UK farmers, renderers, feed manufacturers and others in the animal feed chain.

WHY IS THE UK GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING CHANGING THE REGULATIONS ON PAPs?

Measures for the eradication of BSE must be regularly evaluated and adapted due to risk and new control tools. The industry has installed a range of innovations and quality control systems to guarantee product quality and safety.

Sustainable: Using PAP’s can help to build a circular economy for the UK as in Europe. Safe animal by-products will not go to waste or into lower value applications. UK feed producers and farmers can be less dependent on alternatives such as imported, less sustainable soy and contribute to the UK net zero ambitions.

Healthy: The nutritional rich ingredients contribute to the development, growth and health of livestock and have additional animal welfare benefits.

WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR RUMINANTS AND NON-RUMINANTS?

CHANGES IN REGULATION ARE A 'SLIPPERY SLOPE', HOW DO WE KNOW THAT INTRA-SPECIES CONSUMPTION WON'T BE ALLOWED NEXT AND THEN FEEDING TO COWS AND SHEEP?

About PAP producers

HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT PAP PRODUCERS, FEED PRODUCERS AND FARMERS ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES?

WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU?

IS THE CHANGE OF REGULATION SIMPLY ABOUT PROFITABILITY FOR PAP PRODUCERS?

DO RENDERING COMPANIES HAVE DEDICATED PLANTS TO PRODUCE PAPs?

For consumers

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MEAT IN THE SHOP HAS BEEN FED PAPs?

DOES USING PAPs AFFECT THE PRICE OF MEAT IN THE SHOPS?

ARE PAPs ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

DOES THE USE OF PAPs COMPLY TO HALAL STANDARDS?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM NOT EATING PORK, WHEN CONSUMING CHICKEN?

DO YOU HAVE CONTACTS WITH RETAILERS WHICH HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS?

Feed value and availability

WHICH PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED IN THE MARKET IF THE FEED BAN IS LIFTED IN THE UK?

WHAT IS THE AVAILABLE VOLUME OF PAPs FOR THE FEED INDUSTRY?

CAN WE CALCULATE THE DIGESTIBILITY AND COMPOSITION OF PAPS FROM BEFORE THE FEED BAN CAME INTO EFFECT?

DO YOU HAVE DIGESTIBILITY INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO CREATE CALCULATION MODELS?

TO WHAT EXTENT DO THE ANIMAL PROTEINS USED 20 YEARS AGO (BEFORE THE FEED BAN) DIFFER FROM THE PAPs AVAILABLE TODAY?

Feed grade animal proteins defined as PAPs are only made from Category 3 material, the safest type of by-products which are from healthy slaughtered animals and processed on segregated lines under strict veterinary control in line with EU and UK legislation. Before the introduction of legislation approximately 20 years' ago, material from various sources became meat and bone meal. It did not have the same high standards for sourcing and processing as the PAPs that are now available. In Europe and the UK, meat and bone meal now only refers to material from Category 1 and 2 by-products. They do not re-enter the feedchain but are reused for technical purposes, such as biofuels and Category 2 fertilisers.

WHAT WILL THE PRICE OF PAPs BE?

HOW MUCH PAP DERIVED FROM PIGS CAN POULTRY FEED CONTAIN?

CAN POULTRY OIL AND PORK FAT BE USED AS WELL?

Animal safety

WASN'T MAD COW DISEASE (BSE) CAUSED BY COWS EATING FEED CONTAINING OTHER ANIMALS?

Mad Cow Disease was the most well-known transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy (TSE). The disease was a problem 20–30 Years ago. It was caused by the intra-species consumption of the brain and spinal column which is now classified as specified risk material and must be disposed of as Category 1 material. The contemporary animal protein industry has a wide range of measures and quality systems in place to produce safe ingredients for compound feed.

HOW DO YOU PREVENT BSE HAPPENING AGAIN?

The rendering industry takes a range of measures to do this:

PAPs are made from safe Category 3 animal by-products originating from healthy slaughtered animals. There is veterinary surveillance of the entire reprocessing chain.
Producers use segregated processing lines to avoid cross contamination (intra-species contact and material of different risk categories). All processing methods guarantee safe products at the highest level.
PAPs are only approved for omnivorous and carnivorous animals. PAPs are not used to feed ruminants such as sheep and cows
PAPs are safe. Production processes are carried out under strict supervision of quality management systems and controls. Audits are executed on a regular basis.
PAP producers follow Europe's stringent legislation which ensures livestock and consumers have healthy feed and food. National competent authorities regularly inspect facilities producing PAPs.

ARE PAPS JUST A NEW NAME FOR MEAT AND BONE MEAL (MBM)?

PAPs are only made from Category 3 material, the safest type of by-products which are from healthy slaughtered animals and processed on segregated lines under strict veterinary control in line with EU / UK legislation.

Before the introduction of legislation approximately 20 years' ago, there were no categories for animal by-products. Material from various sources became meat and bone meal. It did not have the same high standards for sourcing and processing as the PAPs that are now available.

The term meat and bone meal is still used in the animal by-products industry. In Europe and the UK, meat and bone meal only refers to material from Category 1 and 2 by-products. They do not re-enter the feed chain but are reused for technical purposes, such as biofuels and Category 2 MBM fertiliser.

Outside Europe, legislation is different, meat and bone meal can still refer to material from a range of sources.