Pennotec
commissioned NNFCC to perform a regulatory review on the use of shellfish waste
in the production of speciality chemicals. Pennotec uses a biotechnological
process for the extraction of chitin from shellfish waste, replacing existing
chemical routes.
NNFCC
carried-out a regulatory landscape assessment for Pennotec as they wished to
understand the barriers, if any, linked to the commercialisation of products generated from crab shell waste in the UK. NNFCC identified the
conditions under which an animal by-product (ABP) such as crab shell waste can
be used in a commercial process. Furthermore, it was determined how the commercialisation of the marketable shell-derived products would be affected. NNFCC reviewed relevant UK and EU regulation and legislation applying
to the use of ABP, AD and feedstock use. Interviews with waste treatment plants, policy
makers and fisheries were carried out to determine whether Pennotec could potentially
offer a superior treatment route for shellfish waste in the UK. To complement this piece of work, NNFCC carried-out
market research on Pennotec's primary process by-products, calcium lactate and asthaxanthin-rich proteins.