International Catering Waste (ICW) and Animal Bi-Product Waste (ABP)

Lowe Brothers are licensed to collect and carry international catering waste (ICW) and animal bi-product waste (ABP). Please read below for full details of the services we can offer.

ABP categories explained

ABPs are divided into 3 categories, based on the risks they pose.

Category 1 ABPs

Category 1 ABPs are classed as high risk.

They include:

  • carcasses and all body parts of animals suspected of being infected with TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy)
  • carcasses of wild animals suspected of being infected with a disease that humans or animals could contract
  • carcasses of animals used in experiments
  • parts of animals that are contaminated due to illegal treatments
  • international catering waste
  • carcasses and body parts from zoo and circus animals or pets
  • specified risk material (body parts that pose a particular disease risk, eg cows’ spinal cords)

Category 2 ABPs

Category 2 ABPs are classed as high risk.

They include:

  • animals rejected from abattoirs due to having infectious diseases
  • carcasses containing residues from authorised treatments
  • unhatched poultry that has died in its shell
  • carcasses of animals killed for disease control purposes
  • carcasses of dead livestock
  • manure
  • digestive tract content

Category 3 ABPs

Category 3 ABPs are classed as low risk.

They include:

  • carcasses or body parts passed fit for humans to eat, at a slaughterhouse
  • products or foods of animal origin originally meant for human consumption but withdrawn for commercial reasons, not because it’s unfit to eat
  • domestic catering waste
  • shells from shellfish with soft tissue
  • eggs, egg by-products, hatchery by-products and eggshells
  • aquatic animals, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates
  • hides and skins from slaughterhouses
  • animal hides, skins, hooves, feathers, wool, horns, and hair that had no signs of infectious disease at death
  • processed animal proteins (PAP)

PAP are animal proteins processed from any category 3 ABP except:

  • milk, colostrum or products derived from them
  • eggs and egg products, including eggshells
  • gelatine
  • collagen
  • hydrolysed proteins
  • dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate of animal origin
  • blood products (although any processed blood would still be subject to this guide)

 

International Catering Waste

International catering waste (ICW) is food waste from international transport vehicles including:

  • cruise ships
  • airlines
  • private or commercial yachts and boats
  • armed forces ships and submarines
  • ferries

Food and drink is not considered ICW until it is no longer intended for human consumption or has been mixed with food waste. For example, a carton of milk is considered ICW only when thrown away.

ICW is a high-risk category 1 animal by-product (ABP).

ICW includes all food waste from planes, vehicles or ships travelling internationally and within EU territory. Food waste from planes, vehicles or ships is classified domestic catering waste when:

  • operating within the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
  • travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

In accordance with the Northern Ireland protocol, the EU classifies food waste from planes, vehicles or ships travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland as ICW.