Handling of animal by-products

All products from the animal kingdom not intended for human consumption and not yet processed as manufactured products, are defined as animal by-products* (often abbreviated as "abp")

Within research activities this pertains to, for example, proteins (over 10 kDA), certain antibodies**, cell cultures, and serum that have an animal origin. Also other tissues as well as whole or parts of dead animals (e.g. organs from laboratory animals) are included.

All animal products are not, however, covered by this regulation***.

Example of what is NOT covered by the regulation for animal by-products:

  • Eggs, embryos and sperm intended for breeding (separate permit needed)
  • CE-certified products are considered as non-contagious and are exempted from the rules (the company has responsibility for protection against contagion)
  • Use of dead wild animals, or parts of wild animals, that are not suspected to be infected with diseases which can be transmitted to humans or animals

Use of animal by-products for research purposes

In order to use animal by-products and products manufactured thereof for research and diagnostic purposes, one must be granted a permit for this from the Swedish Board of Agriculture****. One purpose is to ensure traceability.

Most street addresses and departments at KI campus Huddinge and campus Solna are registered as facilities which may handle animal by-products for research purposes (not diagnostics) and has a permit for use of these. The permit is available at Comparative Medicine km@ki.se

Import of animal by-products for research and educational purposes

  • Import from the EU as well as Norway, Iceland and Switzerland: No import permit is required for import. The transporter must, however, be approved for transporting animal by-products.
  • Import from countries outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland: Import permit is required. Karolinska Institutet has an import permit for samples from mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, pig, aquatic salamander, lamprey, zebra fish and bovine calf serum from the UK, USA, Canada, Israel, China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, and South Africa.

A time-limited copy of the permit for single imports can be sent to you upon request; e-mail Comparative Medicine at km@ki.se Institutions or research groups at KI may also have their own import permits for frequent imports.

The permit requires that a continuous register of these imports are kept, which upon request are to be shown to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. You must therefore always note:

  • sender and origin country
  • type of animal by-product
  • your department

For all types of import there must be a trade document in original, issued by the sender, together with the transport. The trade document is to be saved by you, the recipient, for at least two years. Note that this requirement applies both to national and international transports.

Please send a copy of the trade document which came with your shipment to Comparative Medicine, km@ki.se

Export of animal by-products for research or educational purposes

A trade document in original, issued by you, has to be included with the shipment. The recipient of the products must save the trade document for two years. This applies to animal by-products for both national and international transports. Other rules may be applicable for recipients in lands outside the EU, which must be determined before exporting. Note that the recipient can refuse to accept the product if the trade document is lacking.

Only the standardized trade documents downloaded from the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website can be used. A copy of the completed trade document shall then be sent to km@ki.se.

During transport a label must be attached to the container or vehicle stating:

  • Which risk category of material the shipment belongs to (Category 1, 2 or 3)
  • An easily legible text on the container or vehicle with the text: “For research and diagnostic purposes”

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*Regulated by Regulation EG No 1069/2009 as well as the Swedish Board of Agriculture's Regulation SJVFS 2011:21.

**Affinity-cleaned antibodies are not considered as animal by-products and are not regarded as animal by-products.

***Read more on what is not covered by the regulations (Article 2 EG No 1069/2009).

****Research with animal byproducts that have been produced within an animal facility are not covered by this if the usage is contained within the animal facility.

Komparativ Medicin
12-02-2024