Volume 10: Economic Impact and International Trade
7. Exports of MBM and compound feed, gelatine, tallow and medicines
Tallow

7.27 During November 1991 the French authorities imposed restrictions on imports of tallow from the UK because of their concern that the protein contained in tallow represented a risk of carrying the BSE agent. However, by 28 November the restrictions were withdrawn pending further scientific consideration, and they were not subsequently reinstated. ¹

7.28 There is no evidence to suggest that other importing countries raised concerns, in the period prior to March 1996, about the safety of tallow derived from bovine carcasses. Although Figure 7.3 below shows some fluctuation in the export figures for tallow, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from the data.

Figure 7.3: UK tallow exports, 1986-96