EFPRA Urges EU to Lift Feed Ban on Animal Byproducts
The European Fat Processors and Renderers Association says ending the ban would free up roughly 1.2 million tons of protein for animal feed.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
The European Fat Processors and Renderers Association released a whitepaper calling on EU regulators to allow ruminant processed animal proteins in feed for non-ruminant animals. Current EU rules prohibit this use.
Why it matters
The aquaculture sector is seeking alternative feed ingredients as an anticipated fishmeal shortage approaches. Lifting the ban could add a significant protein source to feed markets.
EFPRA members produce nearly 3 million tons of feed-grade protein meal annually, and the EU exports roughly 30 percent of feed-grade animal proteins. The proposal's 1.2 million tons figure is an estimate of protein that could be newly available, and the extraction gives no official government assessment of it.
The players
European Fat Processors and Renderers Association (EFPRA)
An industry body representing fat processors and renderers in Europe, whose members produce feed-grade protein meal.
Rabobank
A Dutch multinational bank whose food and agriculture research tracks global feed and seafood markets.
The details
The whitepaper and a post by EFPRA's technical director outline the case for removing the restriction. The EU's new Livestock Strategy and Protein Action Plan does not list animal byproducts as a protein source for feed, and insect feed producers face their own limits on organic waste feedstock.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: EFPRA's whitepaper is released and reported.
2025: Rabobank analysis reports that 90 percent of the world's fishmeal goes to aquaculture.
Market Landscape
The push to revise the EU ban sits within a broader search for alternatives to fishmeal, as aquaculture consumes most of the world's fishmeal and fish oil. Insect and algae feeds are also being explored, though EU rules limit the organic waste insect producers can use.
If the EU lifts the ban, feed producers could gain access to additional protein sources, which may affect feed supply and pricing. The extraction does not confirm any change to current rules, so consumers should not expect immediate effects.
The takeaway
Feed supply chains are under pressure from fishmeal shortages, and regulatory limits on byproducts shape which alternatives are available. Watching how EU regulators respond to this proposal will show whether the feed market shifts toward animal-derived proteins.
Further reading
For broader context on alternative feed ingredients and sustainable food sourcing, explore Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Seafoodsource.
