Date: 2026-01-27Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/176 of 26 January 2026 amending Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards transitional measures for export of meat-and-bone meal as a fuel for combustion
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
**Executive Summary**
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/176, issued on January 26, 2026, amends Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 regarding transitional measures for the export of meat-and-bone meal (MBM) as fuel for combustion. This regulation extends the transitional period for Ireland to export MBM to the United Kingdom until June 30, 2027. The regulation is effective from July 1, 2025, and enters into force three days after its publication.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Extension of Transitional Period:**
* The regulation extends the transitional period for Ireland to export MBM to the UK for combustion to June 30, 2027.
* This extension aims to allow Ireland to complete the construction of its own MBM combustion capacity.
* **Amendment to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011:**
* Chapter V of Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 is amended.
* Specifically, point (a) in the third column of row 3 in the table is replaced.
* **Conditions for Export:**
* The competent authority of Ireland must have authorised the export to a combustion plant in the UK by June 30, 2027.
* The movements of MBM must have begun before January 1, 2021, and complied with the conditions outlined in Article 6(6), (7), and (8).
* **Effective Dates:**
* The regulation applies from July 1, 2025.
* It enters into force three days following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ireland**
* **Impact**
* Allows Ireland to continue exporting Category 1 MBM to the UK for combustion for an additional two years, until June 30, 2027. This provides additional time to complete the construction of MBM combustion plants within Ireland.
* **Action Required**
* Ensure that all exports of MBM to the UK are authorised by the competent Irish authority by June 30, 2027. Ensure the movement of MBM started before January 1, 2021, and complied with the conditions outlined in Article 6(6), (7), and (8) of the applicable regulations.
**United Kingdom**
* **Impact**
* The UK can continue to receive MBM from Ireland for combustion purposes until June 30, 2027, under specific conditions.
* **Action Required**
* Comply with the conditions laid down in Article 6(6), (7) and (8) of the regulations.
**European Commission**
* **Impact**
* The regulation amends and supplements existing rules concerning animal by-products and derived products, specifically addressing the disposal of Category 1 MBM.
* **Action Required**
* Ensure that the amendment to Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 is correctly implemented and enforced.
**Other EU Member States**
* **Impact**
* All EU member states are bound by this regulation.
* **Action Required**
* The Regulation must be applied in its entirety and directly.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011: Regulation laying down public and animal health rules for placing on the market and export of animal by-products and derived products. Amended by this regulation.
Meat-and-bone meal (MBM): Category 1 animal by-product intended as a fuel for combustion, the export rules for which are subject to transitional measures extended by this regulation.
Ireland: Country whose transitional export arrangements for MBM are extended due to delays in constructing combustion plants.
Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009: Regulation laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products, which Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 implements.
United Kingdom: The destination of MBM exports from Ireland under transitional measures.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/176 27.1.2026
COMMISSION REGULATION(EU) 2026/176
of 26 January 2026
amending Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards transitional measures for export of meat-and-
bone meal as a fuel for combustion
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying
down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing
Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation)(1), and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 lays down rules for the collection and disposal of animal by-products and derived
products. Article 12 in conjunction with Article 7(2) of that Regulation stipulate that Category 1 meat-and-bone
meal (MBM) should be disposed of by incineration, co-incineration, combustion or landfill or be used as a fuel for
combustion. Article 43 of that Regulation lays down rules on the export of animal by-products and derived products.
(2) Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011(2)lays down public and animal health rules for placing on the market
and export of animal by-products and derived products. Chapter V of Annex XIV to that Regulation lays down rules
for the export of certain derived products, including MBM of Category 1 materials intended as a fuel for combustion.
(3) In 2021, the competent authorities of Ireland indicated that they were building plants for the combustion of MBM.
They requested that, during a transitional period, the traditional trade flows of MBM of Category 1 materials
intended for disposal in the United Kingdom be authorised. By Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/899(3), the
Commission granted the requested derogation until 31 December 2023.
(4) In 2023, the competent authorities of Ireland informed the Commission that several delays in the planning had
disrupted the foreseen timeline of the construction. Therefore, the Commission prolonged the transitional period
until 30 June 2025 by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2613(4).
(5) In early June 2025, the competent authorities of Ireland informed the Commission that, due to cumulative delays in
the construction of the plants, two more years would be needed to complete their own combustion capacity for the
disposal of MBM. It is therefore appropriate to prolong the extension of the transitional period to 30 June 2027. The
Commission considers that this period should be appropriate to finalise the construction of the plants.
(6) Chapter V of Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(1) OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1069/oj.
(2) Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 of 25 February 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European
Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human
consumption and implementing Council Directive 97/78/EC as regards certain samples and items exempt from veterinary checks at
the border under that Directive (OJ L 54, 26.2.2011, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/142/oj).
(3) Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/899 of 3 June 2021 amending Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards transitional measures for
the export of meat-and-bone meal as a fuel for combustion (OJ L 197, 4.6.2021, p. 68, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/899/oj).
(4) Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2613 of 23 November 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards transitional
measures for export of meat-and-bone meal as a fuel for combustion (OJ L, 2023/2613, 24.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/
reg/2023/2613/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/176/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 27.1.2026
(7) This Regulation should apply from 1 July 2025 to ensure continuity between the previous transitional period and the
transitional period provided for in this Regulation, as well as to ensure legal certainty regarding the export of MBM
from Ireland to the United Kingdom.
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
It shall apply from 1 July 2025.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 26 January 2026.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/176/ojEN
OJ L, 27.1.2026
ANNEX
In Chapter V, table, row 3, third column of Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, point (a) is replaced by the
following:
‘(a) the competent authority of Ireland has authorised the export to the combustion plant in the United Kingdom not
later than 30 June 2027, provided such movements of MBM of Category 1 materials intended for disposal have
taken place from that Member State prior to 1 January 2021 under the conditions laid down in Article 6(6), (7)
and (8);’.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/176/oj 3/3