Catering waste is defined in Annex 1 (22) of the Animal By-Product (England) Regulations 2011 as “All waste food, including used cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering facilities, and kitchens including central kitchens and household kitchens”.
All foodstuffs in stores, which are destined for human consumption on board a vessel are determined to be part of the catering facilities.
Catering waste unloaded from vessels that operate outside of European Union is subject to waste management controls. This is to prevent any possible transmission of disease from animal by-products, such as Foot and Mouth disease, to animals in the UK.
International Catering Waste is treated as Category 1 waste, and subject to strict controls on how it should be handled and disposed of.
International Catering Waste (ICW) is defined as catering waste that originates from means of transport operating internationally (i.e. outside of the EU). ICW is considered to be high risk Category 1 Animal By-Product (ABP).
ICW is subject to strict controls to prevent the introduction of exotic notifiable diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, into the UK. There is a risk that disease could be spread if farmed or feral animals are able to come into contact with ICW and the legislation establishes controls that are designed to minimise this risk.