Processing manure for sale as fertiliser in the EU
How to process manure, guano or digestive tract content for sale as a fertiliser in the EU, including how to propose a new treatment method.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
If you want to sell manure, guano or digestive tract content as fertiliser in the EU, they must first be treated at an approved processing plant.
To get approval to process manure, guano or digestive tract content contact Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
How to process manure, guano and digestive tract content for sale as fertiliser in the EU
Manure, guano and digestive tract content must be heated to 70°C for at least 60 minutes before they can be sold in the EU as fertiliser.
You can use an alternative method if you can show the APHA that your method is effective at making the product safe to use.
Contact APHA if you want to discuss the validation of an alternative treatment method.
Documents required for validation of an alternative processing method
You will need to write a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan (HACCP) to explain how you will:
- control and record temperature processing conditions (eg temperature, presence of chemical agents, time spent in the cooker) during your treatment
- manage hazards including the content of unprocessed raw material
You can combine your SOP and HACCP into a single document, and it is up to how you present them to APHA.
Processing test for validation of an alternative processing method
You will also need to carry out a test to show that your treatment is effective at controlling levels of bacteria, viruses and other parasites.
If you use a heat treatment, you will need to show your process controls:
- the presence of bacteria like Enterococcus faecalis
- infectivity titres of viruses like Parvovirus
If your treatment involves chemicals, you will also need to show that it controls the presence of eggs of parasites like the Ascaris parasite.
Before your validation test, add indicators to your raw material that have a similar heat and chemical resistance to the organisms you need to control.
If you use a heat treatment, your process will need to reduce the presence of the indicator of:
- Enteroccus faecalis by 5 log 10
- parvovirus by 3 log 10
If your treatment involves chemicals, your process will also need to reduce the presence of the indicator of eggs of the Ascaris parasite by 3 log 10.
How to test processed manure, guano or digestive tract content for bacteria
You must take samples from each batch of your processed product to check if your treatment is effectively controlling bacteria levels.
You need to send samples to a laboratory for tests for Salmonella and either E.coli or Enterococcaceae.
Take the samples for E.coli or Enterococcaceae testing immediately after you have finished treating the manure, guano or digestive tract content. Take the samples for Salmonella testing when you remove your product from storage to send it away from your facility.
Find out more about laboratory testing requirements for animal by-product (ABP) material, including how to take samples and where to send them for testing.
How to store processed manure, guano or digestive tract content
To prevent contamination of your processed product, you must store it in either of the following:
- well-sealed and insulated silos or storage sheds
- sealed packs, such as plastic bags or ‘big bags’
How to send processed manure, guano or digestive tract content to another EU state
Contact the APHA Centre for International Trade in Carlisle if you would like to send your processed product to another EU state.
You will need to complete commercial documents for trading ABPs between EU states.
Updates to this page
Last updated 9 October 2014 + show all updates
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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First published.