Rendering Establishments - Meat Safety

Elimination of Rendering Licensure Requirements

Effective September 1, 2015, Rendering Operators, as defined in Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapter 144, will no longer be required to hold licenses issued by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in order to conduct business in the state.  These recent changes were the result of amendments enacted by Senate Bill (SB) 202, passed during the 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session (2015). 

  • The license you are required to hold to operate a rendering operation expires on August 31, 2015. 
  • After that date, DSHS will no longer provide testing or issue new licenses, and no license will be required for you to remain in business.
  • Please note that there are state laws and federal regulations with which you must still comply.  

Please do not post your license for public viewing on and after September 1, 2015, as it will no longer be valid.  You should also refrain from advertising or making references in connection with your business that would lead the public to believe that you still hold a license issued by DSHS for conducting business as a rendering operation.

You may still verify former license holders on the Regulatory Services Online Licensing website. However, custom verifications by mail will no longer be available. 

If you have questions, contact the Meat Safety Assurance Unit.

State of Texas Eliminates Licensing and Regulation of Seven Occupations/Businesses

A new state law, Senate Bill 202, was recently passed by the Texas Legislature. The new law becomes effective September 1, 2015. State law will no longer require a license issued by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the following businesses and occupations:

  • Rendering businesses
  • Contact lens dispensers
  • Opticians
  • Bedding
  • Tanning facilities
  • Personal emergency response providers
  • Bottled and vended water certificates of competency

On and after July 1, 2015, DSHS will not issue new licenses or renew expiring licenses for these programs.

earn more about Senate Bill 202 and enter SB202 in the search field.

DSHS will soon be notifying license holders and interested parties directly of this change in Texas law. If you have questions, contact us via e-mail.


Renderers are regulated under the The Texas Renderers' Licensing Act (Health and Safety Code, Ch. 144) and the Transporting Dead Animals and Rendering rule (25 TAC, Ch. 221).


What is Rendering?

Rendering businesses handle dead animals and/or renderable raw materials, which substantially consist of any unprocessed or partially processed material of animal or plant origin, waste cooking greases and recyclable cooking oil. Over the years there has been substantial technological advancement within the rendering industry. Renderers convert otherwise useless or low value material into products for more economical use and market these products both nationally and internationally. Some of the sectors involved in the use of rendering products include the livestock, poultry and pet food industries, which utilize the products to provide fat and protein in rations; the industrial sector, which produces thousands of products containing tallow or tallow derivatives including some soap and personal care products; and most recently rendering products have provided a source material for bio diesel. The rules apply to all persons handling renderable raw materials for commercial gain.

The Texas Department of State Health Services' (DSHS) role is to promote the health, safety and welfare of the public, providing oversight to rendering businesses, assuring that rendering materials handled by rendering businesses are stored, produced, transported and transferred in an environment that will not create a nuisance, and to preclude the entry of inedible renderable products into the human food chain.