Volume 13: Industry Processes and Controls
6. Rendering
Regulation of the rendering industry before 1986

6.51 Before 1981 the rendering industry was virtually unregulated in terms of quality control and production methods. The only control was the commercial necessity to produce tallow and MBM that was acceptable to the market, although at least one renderer considered it commercially prudent to monitor the microbiological cleanliness of its MBM voluntarily. ¹ However, the production of MBM and tallow required that the raw materials be subjected to robust processing at high temperatures for a significant period of time.

6.52 The primary piece of pre-1986 legislation regulating the rendering industry was the Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981, although it was geared towards the result rather than the process. ² It specified that processed protein must meet the 'required biological standard' of being salmonella-free. (Salmonella functioned as a benchmark, since any process that was vigorous enough to destroy it would also destroy most other common micro-organisms.) How the standard was met was at the discretion of the renderer. This legislation and other Regulations affecting the rendering industry before 1986 are examined in greater detail in vol. 14: Responsibilities for Human and Animal Health.