EU Animal By-Products Regulation Amendment: What Changes for Operators in 2026

Key data

If your company produces, processes, transports or imports animal by-products, this amendment modifies the technical framework under which you operate. Regulation (EU) 142/2011 is the reference text that develops the hygiene standards of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009, the European framework standard on animal by-products. This amendment, published on 25 June 2026, corrects material errors detected in the original 2011 text and updates technical aspects with practical implications for multiple sectors.

What does this regulation establish?

This publication is a formal amendment (berichtigung) to Regulation (EU) 142/2011, which develops hygiene standards applicable to animal by-products not intended for human consumption. It is not a new regulation, but rather an amendment to material or technical errors detected in the original text published on 26 February 2011 (OJ L 54).

The amended regulation implements two European reference standards:

• Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009: framework standard on animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
• Directive 97/78/EC: regulates veterinary controls at the border for products from third countries.

The areas affected by the amendment include:

• Hygiene standards applicable to the management of animal by-products.
• Controls at border inspection points for samples and goods exempt from ordinary veterinary controls.
• Technical aspects of the regulatory text that contained errors in the 2011 version.

Since this is an amendment and not a substantive modification, operators must verify whether the corrected errors affect the procedures or documentation they currently apply based on the original text.

Economic and operational impact

Technical or material corrections in European regulations can have significant operational impact when they affect process requirements, material classification or control procedures. In this case, the sectors with the greatest exposure are:

Although the amendment does not introduce new obligations from scratch, operating with the erroneous text can generate involuntary non-compliance in inspections or audits. Competent authorities will apply the amended text as the valid reference from its publication.

Who does it affect?

• Animal by-products operators: companies that produce, process, store or distribute animal meals, fats, organic fertilizers and materials derived from animal origin.
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry: companies that use materials of animal origin as raw materials in their production processes.
• Veterinary industry: manufacturers of veterinary products that incorporate animal by-products.
• Border control authorities: bodies responsible for border inspection points that manage samples and goods exempt under Directive 97/78/EC.
• Importers and exporters: companies that move animal by-products between the EU and third countries and are subject to veterinary controls at the border.
• Advisors and consultants in the agri-food sector: professionals who advise operators on regulatory compliance in animal by-products management.

Practical example

A Spanish company that produces meat and bone meal for use in organic fertilizers operates under the hygiene procedures defined in Regulation (EU) 142/2011. If one of the corrected errors affects, for example, the time or temperature parameters of a hygienization process described in the original text, the company must:

1. Identify which articles or annexes of Regulation 142/2011 have been amended in this publication.
2. Compare the amended text with the one currently applied in its internal procedures.
3. Update its operating protocols and documentation if there is a discrepancy.
4. Communicate the change to its competent regional authority if it affects current authorizations or registrations.

The same applies to a border inspection point that manages samples exempt from ordinary veterinary controls under Directive 97/78/EC: it must review whether documented procedures reflect the amended text or the original with errors.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and review the amended text: access the official publication on EUR-Lex (OJ:L_202690515) and locate the articles or annexes modified from the original 2011 text.
2. Compare with current internal procedures: verify whether your operating protocols, hygiene manuals or self-control documentation reference the original text with errors.
3. Update technical documentation: if there is a discrepancy between the amended text and your procedures, update the affected documents and record the change.
4. Inform quality and compliance managers: ensure that quality, production and logistics teams are aware of the amendment and its practical implications.
5. Consult with the competent authority if the amendment affects authorizations, registrations or certifications currently in force that were issued under the original text.
6. Review procedures at border inspection points: if you operate or manage border controls under Directive 97/78/EC, verify that protocols for samples and exempt goods reflect the amended text.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690515