Animal Rendering: Economics and Policy

Publication Date: March 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Type:

Abstract:

Renderers convert dead animals and animal byproducts into ingredients for a wide range of industrial and consumer goods, such as animal feed, soaps, candles, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. U.S. regulatory actions to bolster safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) could portend significant changes in renderers' business practices, the value of their products, and, consequently, the balance sheets of animal producers and processors. Also, if animal byproducts have fewer market outlets, questions arise about how to dispose of them safely. This report, which will not be updated, describes the industry and discusses several industry-related issues that have arisen in the 108th Congress.1