Rendering plants

Operators of rendering plants are required to:

1. apply for a Food Authority licence online or download an application form (PDF, 418.6 KB), print and post it
2. meet relevant standards
3. prepare for routine inspections or audits.

Before being issued with a licence, the NSW Food Authority will carry out an inspection of the premises to ensure all buildings and equipment meet the requirements of the relevant standards.

For more see applying for a food licence.

There are no formal qualifications required for rendering plants, however each food handler and person in control of a food business is required to have food safety skills and knowledge appropriate to their food handling activities.

Construction and layout of a food premise must be designed to minimise the opportunity for food contamination.

Renderers must ensure that their food premises, fixtures, fittings, equipment and transport vehicles are designed and constructed in a manner that means they can be easily cleaned and, where necessary, sanitised.

Businesses must also ensure that the premises are provided with the necessary services of water, waste disposal, light, ventilation, cleaning and personal hygiene facilities, storage space and access to toilets.

Requirements are set out in Australian Standard AS 5008-2007 Hygienic Rendering of Animals Products .

A food handler must take all reasonable measures not to handle food or surfaces likely to come into contact with food in a way that is likely to compromise the safety and suitability of food.

Requirements are set out in Australian Standard AS 5008-2007 Hygienic Rendering of Animals Products.

Cleaning & sanitation

Rendering plants must implement a documented cleaning schedule that identifies:

• all fixtures, fittings and equipment used in the processing of dairy products
• the frequency of cleaning
• how all fixtures, fittings and equipment are cleaned and sanitised
• how food contact surfaces and utensils are sanitised (where applicable)
• chemical usage (eg. strength, contact times, temperature).

All fixtures, fittings and equipment must be adequate for the production of safe and suitable food, and fit for their intended use.

Routine internal cleaning and sanitation inspections must be undertaken, and records maintained for corrective action taken on any identified issues.

Cleaning chemicals must be suitable for contact with food and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Food Safety Program

Rendering plants need to develop and implement a documented food safety program.

For more information and templates that can be adapted to your business see food safety programs. 

Ruminant feed

Restricted animal material (RAM) from rendering must not be fed to ruminant animals.

RAM is material taken from a vertebrate animal including rendered products such as blood meal, meat meal, meat and bone meal, fish meal, poultry meal, feather meal, and compounded feeds made from these products.

All consignments of bulk or bagged animal material, invoices and other documents relating to the supply of bulk rendered material, must be labelled with the following warning statement so that end users know whether feeds contain RAM.

If consignments of rendered animal material contains RAM:

This product contains restricted animal material DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, DEER, OR OTHER RUMINANTS.  

If consignments of rendered animal material intended for use as stock / animal feed do not contain RAM, and instead contain rendered fats and oils such as tallow, yellow grease or acid oil:

This product does not contain restricted animal material.

Sampling & analysis

Licensed meat rendering plants need comply with the test and analysis requirements set out in the NSW Food Safety Schemes Manual.

The Manual specifies microbiological testing requirements, and for rendering plants includes testing for Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens to confirm that processing is hygienic and sanitary and meets the standard.

Importantly, you should know that:
 

• testing must involve the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or a laboratory approved by the Food Authority
• any analysis is at the licence holder’s expense
• if a sample does not meet the standards set out in the Manual, the licence holder needs to notify the Food Authority
• within 24 hours by phone, and
• within 7 days in writing.

Rendering plants will be routinely audited by the Food Authority for compliance with requirements.

There are fees for audits and inspections, payable by the licence holder.

Compliance or regulatory action will be taken if required.

For more see audits of licensed businesses.

Operators of rendering plants need to meet the requirements set out in:

1. Food Act 2003 (NSW)
2. Food Regulation 2015 including relevant parts of the Meat Food Safety Scheme
3. NSW Food Safety Schemes Manual
4. Australian Standard AS 5008-2007 Hygienic Rendering of Animals Products