1. Introduction
In European feed industry legislation, “processed animal protein” is not a marketing term — it is a precisely defined regulatory category that governs how rendered animal-derived ingredients are classified, traded, and used in compound feed across the EU. For procurement managers, feed formulators, and raw material trading companies, understanding what PAP means in regulatory terms is not optional: it is the foundation of compliant, defensible ingredient sourcing.
Processed animal proteins — commonly abbreviated to PAP — is the umbrella term that covers the full range of rendered animal protein ingredients used in petfood and aquaculture feed: poultry meal, meat and bone meal, feather meal, blood meal, and fish-derived protein meal, among others. Each of these ingredients is a form of processed animal protein, and each is subject to the same overarching legislative framework, even as their specific nutritional profiles, permitted applications, and quality parameters differ substantially.
This guide is written for B2B buyers operating in the European petfood and aquaculture feed industries: procurement managers evaluating suppliers, feed formulators specifying ingredients, and raw material trading companies managing regulatory compliance across multi-origin supply chains. It explains what PAP is under EU law, which types are approved for which applications, what the regulatory framework requires, and how to source rendered protein reliably from qualified European suppliers.
2. What Is Processed Animal Protein?
Under EU legislation, PAP is defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 and its implementing rules under Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011 as protein derived from animal raw materials through a rendering or processing method that achieves defined pathogen reduction standards. More specifically, processed animal protein is produced from Category 3 animal by-products — materials derived from animals that were fit for human consumption at the time of slaughter but did not enter the food chain for commercial reasons.
The key distinguishing feature of animal protein meal is that it consists primarily of protein derived from animal tissue — muscle, organ, connective tissue, and in some cases feathers or blood — that has been heat-treated to produce a shelf-stable, microbially safe ingredient. This distinguishes it from other animal-derived feed categories such as rendered animal fats (tallow, poultry fat), hydrolysed proteins, gelatin, and collagen, which are governed by separate regulatory provisions and are not classified as PAP under EU law.
In practical terms, the ingredients that fall within the PAP category and are relevant to B2B buyers in the European feed industry include poultry-derived rendered animal protein (poultry meal and poultry by-product meal), porcine and bovine processed animal protein (meat and bone meal), feather meal (hydrolysed keratin protein), blood meal, fish-derived PAP (fish meal), and — under a relatively recent EU derogation — insect-derived this ingredient.
It is important to note that not all animal protein ingredients are automatically classified as PAP. The classification depends on both the source material category (Category 3 compliance is mandatory) and the processing method applied. Ingredients that do not meet the defined processing standards cannot be marketed or traded as such ingredients for use in feed, regardless of their protein content.
3. Types of Processed Animal Protein Approved for Feed Use in the EU
The EU recognises several distinct types of PAP for use in animal feed, each with its own nutritional profile, regulatory conditions, and primary applications. Understanding the differences between these types is essential for feed formulators and procurement managers building compliant, cost-effective ingredient strategies.
3.1 Poultry-Derived Processed Animal Protein
Poultry-derived these proteins — most commonly traded as poultry meal or poultry by-product meal — is the highest-volume and most widely used form of PAP in the European petfood and aquaculture feed industries. It is produced from Category 3 poultry slaughter by-products including carcasses, offal, frames, and skin, rendered at approved facilities under controlled heat and pressure.
With crude protein levels typically ranging from 65% to 70% for standard poultry meal and up to 72% for low ash grades, poultry-derived processed animal protein offers the best overall combination of protein density, digestibility, and amino acid balance among the terrestrial PAP types. It is the default fish meal alternative in European aquafeed formulations and the primary animal protein source in premium dry petfood.
3.2 Porcine PAP
Porcine rendered protein is derived from pig slaughter by-products and is most commonly traded as porcine meat and bone meal. It carries crude protein levels of 50–55% with a higher ash content than poultry-derived PAP, reflecting the bone fraction in the raw material. It is the most widely available mammalian animal protein meal in Europe, given the continent’s large pork processing industry.
Porcine processed animal protein is approved for use in petfood and aquaculture feed, and — following the 2021 EU derogation discussed in Section 4 — is now also permitted in poultry feed under defined conditions. It is not permitted in feed for pigs (intra-species recycling ban) or ruminants. For buyers with Halal certification requirements, porcine PAP must be explicitly excluded from specifications.
3.3 Bovine Processed Animal Protein
Bovine PAP is derived from cattle slaughter by-products and is subject to the most stringent regulatory oversight of any rendered animal protein type in the EU, reflecting the legacy of the BSE crisis and the ongoing TSE monitoring framework. It carries similar compositional characteristics to porcine MBM but requires additional documentation demonstrating compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001.
Bovine processed animal protein is permitted in petfood and aquaculture feed but is not permitted in feed for any farmed animals intended for food production. B2B buyers sourcing bovine-origin PAP should ensure their suppliers can provide full TSE risk documentation alongside standard Category 3 compliance declarations.
3.4 Feather Meal
Feather meal is a form of this ingredient produced by the hydrolysis of poultry feathers under high pressure and temperature, breaking down the indigestible keratin structure into a protein-rich meal. Properly hydrolysed feather meal achieves crude protein levels of 75–85%, making it one of the highest crude protein PAP ingredients commercially available. However, its amino acid profile is limiting — deficient in lysine, methionine, and histidine — which constrains inclusion rates in balanced formulations.
As a such ingredients, feather meal is approved for use in petfood and aquaculture feed. B2B buyers should always specify minimum pepsin digestibility (75–80%) when procuring feather meal, as the quality of hydrolysis varies significantly between processed animal protein manufacturers.
3.5 Blood Meal
Blood meal is a PAP produced by spray-drying or drum-drying collected animal blood, predominantly from porcine or bovine slaughter. It delivers the highest crude protein content of any commercial these proteins ingredient — 85–90% on a dry matter basis — and is exceptionally rich in lysine, making it a valuable amino acid complement to other PAP types in blended formulations.
Blood meal is approved for use in petfood and aquaculture feed. Its strong flavour profile limits palatability in some applications, and its high solubility means it leaches quickly in aquatic environments, constraining inclusion rates in shrimp and fish feeds. Despite these limitations, blood meal is an indispensable rendered protein ingredient in high-performance aquafeed formulations.
3.6 Fish-Derived rendered animal protein
Fish meal is classified as a PAP when derived from whole fish or fish by-products through approved rendering processes. It remains the benchmark quality animal protein meal in aquaculture feed, offering crude protein of 60–72%, very high digestibility, a well-balanced amino acid profile, and naturally occurring EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
However, fish-derived PAP is under significant commercial pressure from rising raw material costs and sustainability concerns. The European aquafeed industry is actively reformulating to reduce fish meal inclusion rates by substituting with terrestrial PAP ingredients — particularly poultry-derived processed animal protein — supplemented with synthetic amino acids.
3.7 Insect-Derived Processed Animal Protein
Insect-derived rendered animal protein — primarily from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae — is the newest approved category of PAP in the EU. Following regulatory amendments in 2017 and subsequent updates, insect this ingredient is now approved for use in aquafeed and petfood, with further approvals for use in pig and poultry feed also in place. While volumes remain small relative to conventional processed animal protein types, insect PAP is growing rapidly and represents an important emerging component of the EU’s sustainable protein strategy.
Comparison Table: PAP Types
| PAP Type | Crude Protein % | Digestibility | Key Strength | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry Meal | 65–72% | High | Best AA balance | Petfood, Aquafeed |
| Porcine MBM | 50–55% | Medium-High | Cost-effective | Petfood, Aquafeed, Poultry feed |
| Bovine MBM | 50–55% | Medium-High | Mineral source | Petfood, Aquafeed |
| Feather Meal | 75–85% | Medium* | Highest CP% | Aquafeed, Petfood |
| Blood Meal | 85–90% | Very High | Lysine-rich | Aquafeed |
| Fish Meal | 60–72% | Very High | Omega-3 + AA profile | Premium Aquafeed |
| Insect Meal | 40–60% | High | Sustainability | Aquafeed, Petfood |
Digestibility highly dependent on hydrolysis quality.
4. EU Regulatory Framework for Processed Animal Protein
The regulatory framework governing PAP in the EU is one of the most complex in the global feed ingredients industry. It has been shaped by successive food safety crises — most notably BSE in the 1990s — and continues to evolve as new such ingredients categories (insect PAP) are approved and existing restrictions are incrementally relaxed.
4.1 Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 — The Foundation
Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 is the primary legislation governing animal by-products and derived products in the EU, including all PAP. It establishes the three-category classification system (Category 1, 2, and 3) and defines the conditions under which animal by-products can be collected, transported, processed, and used. All PAP intended for use in feed must be derived exclusively from Category 3 materials — the lowest risk category — and produced at rendering establishments holding formal approval under this regulation.
For B2B buyers, the practical implication is straightforward: every batch of these proteins purchased must be accompanied by a Category 3 compliance declaration, and the source rendering plant must appear on the EU’s register of approved establishments.
4.2 Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011 — Processing Methods
Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011 sets out the approved processing methods that must be applied to Category 3 materials to produce PAP for feed use. Processing Method 1 — the standard method — requires that material is reduced to a particle size of ≤ 50mm and heat-treated at a minimum of 133°C at 3 bar pressure for 20 minutes. Alternative processing methods are approved for specific rendered protein types including blood meal, fish meal, and feather meal.
Compliance with approved processing methods is not optional — it is a prerequisite for the legal classification of a product as PAP. Buyers should confirm with their processed animal protein suppliers that the relevant processing method is documented and applied consistently.
4.3 TSE Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 — Ruminant Feed Ban and Intra-Species Restrictions
Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies imposes two critical restrictions on the use of animal protein meal in feed:
The ruminant feed ban prohibits the use of any PAP derived from mammalian species in feed for ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats). This ban has been in place since the BSE crisis and remains in force regardless of the species of origin of the PAP. Fish-derived rendered animal protein is exempt from this ban.
The intra-species recycling ban prohibits the use of processed animal protein derived from a given species in feed for animals of the same species — for example, porcine PAP cannot be used in pig feed, and bovine this ingredient cannot be used in cattle feed.
4.4 The 2021 EU Derogation — A Landmark Change
In August 2021, the EU introduced a significant regulatory change: Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 partially lifted the ban on PAP in pig and poultry feed, which had been in place since the BSE crisis. Under the new rules, non-ruminant such ingredients (specifically poultry-derived PAP for use in pig feed, and porcine PAP for use in poultry feed) is now permitted under strictly controlled conditions, provided that cross-species contamination risk is managed through dedicated processing and feed production lines, and that full traceability documentation is maintained.
This derogation significantly expands the addressable market for processed animal protein in Europe and represents an important commercial development for B2B buyers and suppliers operating in the pig and poultry feed sectors.
4.5 Import Requirements for Processed Animal Protein from Third Countries
PAP imported into the EU from third countries is subject to the full import compliance framework: pre-notification via the TRACES NT system, veterinary health certification from the competent authority in the country of origin, and physical inspection at a designated Border Control Post upon entry. The rendering plant of origin must be listed on the EU’s approved third-country establishments register.
For B2B buyers, sourcing these proteins from EU-based suppliers substantially reduces regulatory risk, documentation burden, and the potential for border inspection delays.
5. Feed Applications: Where these ingredients Is Used
5.1 Petfood
Processed animal protein is the backbone of the European premium petfood industry. In dry kibble formulations, poultry-derived PAP serves as the primary declared protein source — supporting “high meat content” and “natural” label claims that drive premium positioning. In wet petfood, a blend of rendered protein types including poultry meal, meat and bone meal, and blood meal contributes both protein density and palatability. Treats and functional petfood formats increasingly specify single-source PAP for clean label appeal.
All animal protein meal used in petfood sold within the EU must be derived from Category 3 materials and comply with Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. For petfood brands exporting outside the EU, destination market requirements — including USDA equivalence for the US and GACC registration for China — may impose additional conditions on processed animal protein sourcing.
5.2 Aquaculture Feed
PAP plays a central and growing role in European aquaculture feed formulation. The sustained elevation of fish meal prices and increasing sustainability pressure on wild-capture fisheries have accelerated the substitution of fish-derived PAP with terrestrial PAP alternatives — predominantly poultry-derived rendered animal protein supplemented with blood meal and feather meal.
For salmonid species, poultry-derived PAP at inclusion rates of 10–20% — combined with crystalline lysine and methionine supplementation — can replace 50–80% of the fish meal fraction without significant performance penalties. For shrimp and marine fish, processed animal protein from blood meal and low ash poultry meal provides both the protein density and palatability performance that aquafeed formulations require.
5.3 Pig and Poultry Feed
As noted in Section 4, the 2021 EU derogation has reopened the pig and poultry feed market to certain categories of this ingredient for the first time since the BSE crisis. Non-ruminant PAP — poultry PAP in pig diets and porcine PAP in poultry diets — is now permitted under strictly controlled conditions. This represents a substantial new market for such ingredients in Europe, and B2B suppliers with the documentation and processing segregation capabilities to comply with the derogation conditions are well-positioned to serve this demand.
5.4 What Processed Animal Protein Cannot Be Used For
PAP derived from mammalian species cannot be used in feed for ruminant animals under any circumstances. PAP cannot be produced from Category 1 or Category 2 materials and marketed as feed-grade. And these proteins that has not been produced using an EU-approved processing method cannot legally be traded as PAP for feed use within the EU.
6. Quality Standards and Specifications for B2B Procurement
Specifying rendered protein for B2B procurement requires a clear understanding of both the nutritional parameters relevant to the target application and the regulatory documentation requirements. The following framework applies across all processed animal protein types:
Nutritional Specifications
The appropriate specification for PAP varies by type, but the following table provides a cross-type reference framework:
| Parameter | Poultry PAP | MBM (Porcine/Bovine) | Feather Meal | Blood Meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein (DM) | ≥ 65% | ≥ 50% | ≥ 75% | ≥ 85% |
| Ash | ≤ 14% | ≤ 35% | ≤ 4% | ≤ 6% |
| Moisture | ≤ 8% | ≤ 8% | ≤ 8% | ≤ 8% |
| Pepsin Digestibility | ≥ 85% | ≥ 80% | ≥ 75% | ≥ 90% |
| Acid-Insoluble Ash | ≤ 2% | ≤ 2% | ≤ 1% | ≤ 1% |
| Salmonella | Absent/25g | Absent/25g | Absent/25g | Absent/25g |
Certification and Documentation Requirements
For every consignment of animal protein meal, B2B buyers should require the following documentation from their supplier:
A Category 3 compliance declaration confirming the source material category and approved rendering establishment. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory covering proximate analysis and microbiological parameters. A species-of-origin declaration — particularly critical for mammalian PAP. GMP+ certification of the supplier or trading company. Halal certification where required by the buyer’s production requirements. And — for third-country imports — the relevant veterinary health certificate and TRACES pre-notification reference.
7. How to Source Processed Animal Protein in Europe
EU-Approved Rendering Plants
The most traceable and regulatory-compliant source of processed animal protein in Europe is an EU-approved rendering plant producing directly from Category 3 raw material streams. Direct supply from such facilities offers the highest confidence in product identity, processing method compliance, and batch-to-batch consistency. However, direct plant relationships typically require significant minimum order volumes and formal supplier qualification audits.
Specialist B2B Trading Companies
For many petfood and aquafeed manufacturers, particularly those sourcing multiple types of PAP across different product lines, a specialist B2B feed ingredient trading company offers meaningful practical advantages. These include access to a broader range of rendered animal protein types from multiple approved rendering facilities, flexible order quantities, consolidated logistics, and full documentation management across all supply origins.
The most effective PAP trading partners combine deep product knowledge with rigorous supply chain transparency — disclosing source rendering plants, providing batch-level documentation, and maintaining the certifications (GMP+, HACCP, Halal) that downstream buyers require.
The Netherlands as a Processed Animal Protein Trading Hub
The Netherlands is one of Europe’s primary trading and logistics centres for processed animal protein, benefiting from Rotterdam port’s position as the EU’s largest freight hub and the country’s deep integration into European agri-food supply chains. Dutch-based this ingredient suppliers can typically offer competitive pricing — through access to broad spot and forward markets — alongside reliable 2–5 day road delivery to major petfood and aquafeed manufacturing clusters across Western and Northern Europe.
Tuva Euro BV, headquartered in Enschede, Netherlands, supplies a comprehensive range of PAP ingredients — including poultry meal, meat and bone meal, feather meal, and blood meal — to B2B customers across the European petfood and aquaculture feed industries. With full Category 3 compliance documentation, GMP+ and Halal certification, and logistics capability for both bulk and big bag delivery, Tuva Euro provides the supply chain reliability and regulatory transparency that such ingredients procurement demands.
8. Market Trends Driving Demand for Processed Animal Protein
Fish Meal Price Pressure and PAP Substitution
The single most powerful commercial driver of processed animal protein demand in Europe is the sustained elevation of fish meal prices. Global anchovy catch volatility, combined with rising Asian aquaculture demand has pushed fish meal prices to levels that make terrestrial PAP substitution not just environmentally preferable but economically necessary. European aquafeed producers are progressively reducing fish meal inclusion rates, replacing it with optimised blends of poultry-derived these proteins, blood meal, and feather meal.
The 2021 PAP Derogation Opens New Markets
The reinstatement of non-ruminant PAP in pig and poultry feed under the 2021 EU derogation represents the most significant regulatory development in the rendered protein market in two decades. It has opened a substantial new demand channel for processed animal protein in European compound feed — estimated to represent millions of additional tonnes of potential PAP use annually as the industry adapts to the new rules.
Premium Petfood Growth
The European premium petfood market continues to expand, driven by pet humanisation trends and rising consumer willingness to pay for high-meat-content, natural ingredient formulations. This growth directly increases demand for high-quality PAP — particularly low ash poultry-derived animal protein meal — that can support authentic “real meat” and “high protein” label claims.
Sustainability and Circular Economy Policy
PAP from EU-approved Category 3 rendering facilities is a circular economy ingredient: it upcycles nutrient-rich slaughter by-products that would otherwise require costly disposal. The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and European Green Deal both recognise PAP as a key component of a more sustainable European food and feed system. For petfood and aquafeed brands building sustainability narratives into their sourcing strategies, processed animal protein from approved EU rendering plants is an increasingly credible and policy-aligned choice.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Is rendered animal protein the same as meat and bone meal?
Meat and bone meal is one type of PAP, but the two terms are not synonymous. this ingredient is the regulatory umbrella category that includes all rendered animal protein ingredients approved for feed use under EU legislation — including poultry meal, feather meal, blood meal, fish meal, and insect meal, as well as meat and bone meal. When a regulation refers to PAP, it applies to all of these ingredient types collectively. When a formulator or buyer refers to MBM specifically, they mean the mammalian-derived subset of the processed animal protein category.
Is such ingredients safe for use in pet food?
Yes. PAP derived from Category 3 animal by-products and produced at EU-approved rendering plants is fully permitted and safe for use in petfood sold within the EU. The regulatory framework governing these proteins — Regulations (EC) 1069/2009, (EU) 142/2011, and (EC) 999/2001 — provides one of the most rigorous food safety frameworks for feed ingredients in the world. Poultry-derived PAP in particular has an established safety and performance record in petfood formulation spanning decades.
What EU regulation governs processed animal protein?
The primary legislation governing rendered protein in the EU is Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (the animal by-products regulation), implemented by Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011 which sets out approved processing methods and conditions of use. Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 on TSEs imposes the ruminant feed ban and intra-species recycling restrictions. The 2021 derogation was introduced through Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372, which amended the restrictions on non-ruminant PAP in pig and poultry feed.
Can animal protein meal be used in pig and poultry feed?
Yes, under conditions introduced by the 2021 EU derogation. Non-ruminant PAP is now permitted in pig feed (poultry-derived PAP) and poultry feed (porcine-derived PAP) provided that dedicated processing lines prevent cross-species contamination, full traceability is maintained, and feed mills comply with additional monitoring and documentation requirements. The ruminant feed ban remains fully in force — no processed animal protein from mammalian species can be used in cattle, sheep, or goat feed.
How do I verify that a PAP supplier is EU-approved?
U-approved rendered animal protein rendering establishments are listed on national competent authority registers, which are publicly accessible. Buyers can also verify supplier approval status through the TRACES NT system or by requesting the formal establishment approval certificate directly from the supplier. All reputable PAP suppliers will provide this documentation as standard.
10. Conclusion
this ingredient is not a single ingredient — it is a regulatory category that encompasses the full spectrum of rendered animal protein ingredients that underpin modern European petfood and aquaculture feed manufacturing. Understanding processed animal protein in its regulatory context is essential for any B2B buyer operating in these industries: it determines what can be sourced, from where, for what applications, and under what documentation requirements.
The commercial case for PAP in European feed formulation has never been stronger. Fish meal prices continue to drive aquafeed reformulation toward terrestrial such ingredients alternatives. The 2021 EU derogation has reopened the pig and poultry feed market to PAP for the first time in two decades. And the premium petfood sector’s continued growth is sustaining high demand for quality-specified PAP from approved EU rendering sources.
For procurement managers and feed formulators navigating this landscape, the priorities are clear: source these proteins exclusively from Category 3-compliant, GMP+-certified suppliers with full batch documentation; specify ingredients precisely using the parameters outlined in this guide; and build supply relationships with partners who combine product expertise with regulatory transparency. A Netherlands-based B2B processed animal protein supplier with Halal certification, multi-product range, and direct access to EU-approved rendering facilities provides exactly the combination of compliance, flexibility, and supply reliability that modern feed manufacturing requires.
Ready to discuss B2B supply of processed animal protein for your petfood or aquafeed production? Contact Tuva Euro BV.
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