Ruminant Protein Control Programme

What you need to know about the Ruminant Protein Control Programme (RPCP)

The Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999 prohibit the feeding of ruminant protein (RP) in any form (except dairy produce) to ruminants, to prevent BSE agents cycling through the feed chain.

Under the Regulations, if you are a feed manufacturer, miller, renderer or a feed re-bagging unit you may require a MAF-registered Ruminant Protein Control Programme (RPCP). 

What is an RPCP?

A Ruminant Protein Control Programme is a plan that outlines how feed produced for ruminants is not contaminated by ruminant protein.

Do I need an RPCP?

An RPCP is a must for all premises where ruminant protein is rendered, used or stored and where:

(a)     Non-ruminant mammalian, avian or fish tissue is rendered for feeding to ruminants;

or

(b)     Feed intended for ruminants is produced

Complete the following checklist to find out whether you require a RPCP.

Feed Manufacturers and Millers

Do you make feed, even occasionally, for ruminants (such as cattle/dairy cows, sheep, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas)?	Yes	No
Do you use ruminant protein (such as meat-and-bone meal, blood meal and bone meal), even occasionally, for making feed for non-ruminants (such as pigs, chickens, horses, ostriches, fish and rabbits)?	Yes	No

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of the above questions, you require an RPCP.

Feed Re-bagging Units

Do you re-bag, even occasionally, bulk feed for ruminants?	Yes	No
Do you re-bag, even occasionally, bulk feed that contains ruminant protein?	Yes	No

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of the above questions, you require an RPCP.

Renderers

Do you, even occasionally, render ruminant tissue?	Yes	No
Do you render non-ruminant tissue (such as poultry meal, feather meal, fishmeal, etc) that is sold as suitable for feeding to ruminants?	Yes	No

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of the above questions, you require an RPCP.

Who writes the Ruminant Protein Control Programme?

You can write your own RPCP.  Click here for a sample RPCP. Alternatively, you may appoint a consultant of your choice. Please, however, remember that the Regulations require your control programme to be annually verified by a qualified auditor (again of your choice), and the person who writes your RPCP cannot be your auditor as well.

For registration send the RPCP to:

Team Support Officer (Animal Response)
Post Clearance Directorate
Biosecurity New Zealand
P. O. Box 2526
Wellington 6011
 

RPCP Eligibility Criteria: Dedicated Ruminant Feed Processing Line Requirements

For your RPCP to be eligible for registration, your plant must conform to the Dedicated Ruminant Feed Processing Line requirements, which mean:

a.       Having complete physical separation of feed transfer lines and feed processing equipment used for producing feeds for ruminants from those used for producing non-ruminant feeds containing ruminant protein.

b.       The physical separation shall occur from arrival on the premises of ingredients to bulk out load or bagged packing and will include storage.

c.       The feed processing equipment referred to above includes, but is not limited to, load-in bins, weigh batch mixer, press bins, press, augers, chain drags, elevators, buckets, paddles, mixers, blenders, pelleting machines, dump hopper, bagging machines and storage silos.

d.       If not adequately physically separated, intake pits for risk materials should have barrier(s) of appropriate design and dimensions between it/them and the intake lines for ruminant feed ingredients. This is to prevent wind-borne contamination.

e.       Apply due diligence to prevent contamination of ruminant feed during their transport at both pre-mill as well as post-mill stages.

f.         Production of both ruminant and non-ruminant feeds on the same premises, within the same building, is acceptable so long as physical separation of feed transfer lines and feed processing equipment is achieved.

 

Are there any costs associated with the Ruminant Protein Control Programme?

Yes, there are three types of MAF costs:

(a) the time spent in doing a desktop review of the programme, which is $130 per hour (on average this requires about three hours),

(b) the cost involved in doing a pre-registration onsite audit of your premises (this could be around $1,200), and

(c) laboratory testing of ruminant feed samples (approx. $70 per sample).

The cost of annual verification of your programme by your own auditor is in addition to the above cost and you’ll have to pay the auditor directly.

How much time is required to have an RPCP registered?

You could expect a turnaround time of about two weeks, provided you include all the required information in your RPCP.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008