Analysis of the current situation of SANDACH waste management in Canarias Autonomous Community

Abstract

The challenge posed by the management of animal by-products not intended for human consumption (SANDACH) is due to the threat they represent to global health, food safety and the environment. Important health crises, associated with a lack of control in their management, demonstrated the need for regulation at European level, which was established in 2009, with the relevant variations for each of the member states and, in the case of Spain, specific considerations for each of the Autonomous Communities. The Canary Islands, due to their remoteness, insularity and orography, have been declared a remote area, allowing exceptions in terms of their elimination. This paper aims to provide updated information on the type of management that is carried out, in particular by facilities linked to the veterinary sector on the islands and the obstacles they face. In order to answer these questions, a review was carried out of the regulations in force in the Canary Islands regarding SANDACH and the management facilities available in the archipelago. A survey was carried out and sent to veterinary establishments in the Canary Islands and information was also gathered on the management carried out in livestock farms and slaughterhouses in our Autonomous Community, as well as in the ULPGC. Our study revealed the existence of companies authorised to handle and store SANDACH only in some of the islands. The survey of veterinary establishments revealed a certain lack of knowledge of the SANDACH regulations in force and a preference among pet owners for cheaper methods of carcass disposal. The progression of the quantities of SANDACH generated in the Canary Islands in recent years has shown an upward trend. The results highlight the need to provide the islands with facilities to increase the use of SANDACH waste and thus reduce the volume of these by-products destined for the environmental complexes.