Convention Continued from page 11 EPA is reviewing effluent limitation guidelines for rendering. Specifically, the standards for ammonia and total nitrogen are being studied due to concerns that the industry is a source of elevated nitrates in waterways. In addition, EPA has adopted a new stricter aquatic life ambient water quality standard for ammonia, based on ammonia toxicity of certain mussels and snails. Vogler stated that this standard is used by states in adopting water quality standards for local waterways. Greg Sindt, Bolton and Menk, reported that the Iowa nutrient reduction strategy using a technology-based approach for reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus has been adopted. Other states in the Mississippi River watershed are looking at this as an alternative to in-stream standards. Sindt encouraged NRA and its members to get involved in this issue. Biofuels Committee Chairman Chuck Neece, Farmers Union Industries, explained that petroleum companies are against increasing RFS volumes for ethanol because they can’t meet the higher inclusion levels due to decreased fuel demand. Other groups, including food companies and engine manufacturers, are also calling for a repeal or significant reduction of the RFS. “Politically, a repeal of the RFS will be impossible,” commented Steve Kopperud, Policy Directions, who also shot down the possibility of an extension of the biodiesel tax credit after this year. However, Kopperud does believe EPA and the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee need to be reminded of the significance biomass-based fuels have on the distillate fuel market. NRA’s committee agreed to support the biomass-based distillate market and the value of the RFS for biodiesel and renewable diesel. NRA’s Legislative Committee released a white paper on grease theft that is posted on Render’s website. The NRA Executive Committee voted to raise membership dues, the first increase since 2009, and include all renderer members in the International Market Development Committee (IMDC) program. Up until now, IMDC has been a voluntary contribution membership program. The executive committee then introduced Nancy Foster, NRA’s new president (see page 21 in this issue of Render), and then named the following new officers for a two-year term: Ross Hamilton, Darling International, as chairman; Tim Guzek, Sanimax, as first vice chairman; and Ridley Bestwick, West Coast Reduction, Canada, as second vice chairman. International Issues NRA convention attendees took a trip around the world from the comfort of the meeting room. Niels Nielsen, European Fat Processors and Renderers Association, explained that although poultry and porcine processed animal proteins can now be used in fish feed in Europe, there is a delay in approved testing to allow poultry meal in pork feed and an even further delay for porcine meal in poultry feed. He expects those proteins will not be allowed back in feed until 2015 and 2016, respectively. Nielsen revealed that European renderers are seeing a drop in raw material due to meat processors shipping more byproducts such as pig heads and chicken feet to China. However, the 87 million metric tons (MT) of food waste could become New NRA leadership for the next two years are, from left, Ridley Bestwick, second vice chair man, Ross Hamilton, chair man, and Tim Guzek, first vice chairman. a “very interesting situation” for renderers in the future. Andy Bennett, Australian Renderers Association (ARA), shared his country’s trials and tribulations, including the welcomed departure of Australia’s two most recent prime ministers who were unfriendly to business. On the woeful side, the country’s carbon tax implemented in 2012 at $23 per metric ton now costs $24.15 with no chance of repealing the law until July 2014. Australia’s largest independent renderer is paying $1.4 million per year for the carbon tax, while Bennett’s operation, Talloman, is paying just under $700,000 annually. “The tax is not doing anything about pollution,” Bennett declared. “The revenue is filling the black hole the labor government created.” Australia’s protein meal exports to China is far from resolved with many plants waiting on audits and approval to export, and a recent highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Australia caused China, Indonesia, and Taiwan to ban poultry meal imports from the country down under. These and other challenges have caused prices for rendered products to drop, but the biggest hurdle coming is a major supermarket chain employing British policymaking requiring no animal proteins in poultry diets. “One major processor won’t capitulate, but another has,” Bennett commented. “ARA has engaged the services of an industry expert to point out the shortcomings of this approach.” Currently, poultry is the most consumed meat in Australia although rendered products processed in Australia and New Zealand are primarily from beef and sheep/lamb. Alexandre Ferreira of the Brazilian renderers group SINCOBESP pointed out there are 343 integrated and 169 independent renderers in the country processing 12 million MT of raw material; 57.8 percent ruminants, 35.1 percent poultry, 6.1 percent swine, and one percent fish. Brazil’s exports of rendered products are growing, from 57,390 MT in 2010 to 89,227 MT in 2012 with the primary markets being Vietnam (38,592 MT) and Chile (28,910 MT). Over 44,000 MT of those exports is meat and bone meal followed by 19,347 MT of poultry meal and 11,469 MT of fish meal. Brazil’s other rendering association, Associacao Brasileira de Reciclagem Animal, or ABRA, is working hard at putting the industry on the map by initiating a hygienic rendering program, assembling an export program, and working closer with the 12 December 2013 Render www.rendermagazine.com
Render_Dec13
To see the actual publication please follow the link above