NAICS 311613

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of statistics on the U.S. economy. Developed by the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997; current statistical series are on the 2022 NAICS basis. ¹

NAICS 311613 covers establishments primarily engaged in rendering animal fat, bones, and meat scraps. Census cross-references place blending of purchased animal fats with vegetable fats in NAICS 311225 and distinguish rendering from slaughtering and meat processing activities classified in NAICS 311611, NAICS 311612, and NAICS 311615. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 311613 overview
• G2X — NAICS 311611 Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
• G2X — NAICS 311612 Meat Processed from Carcasses

What this NAICS covers

• Rendering of animal fat from slaughtering and processing byproducts when rendering is the primary establishment activity. ²
• Rendering of animal bones and meat scraps to recover usable materials. ²
• Meat byproduct processing performed through rendering rather than fabrication of edible meat cuts. ²
• Operations whose output is rendered animal fats/greases and related byproducts, not finished meat products. ²
• Independent rendering plants serving slaughterhouses or processors under contract or toll arrangements — Not specified by official sources. ²
• Establishments where rendering, not slaughtering or meat cutting, defines the production process and industry classification. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	311611	Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
NAICS	311612	Meat Processed from Carcasses
NAICS	311615	Poultry Processing
NAICS	311225	Fats and Oils Refining and Blending

Source: Census NAICS definitions and cross-references. ²

Key exclusions and cross-references

• Blending purchased animal fats with vegetable fats is classified in NAICS 311225, not in NAICS 311613. ²
• Slaughtering animals (except poultry) is classified in NAICS 311611. ²
• Processing meat from purchased carcasses belongs in NAICS 311612. ²
• Poultry and small-game slaughtering/processing is classified in NAICS 311615. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 311613?

  • Establishments in NAICS 311613 are primarily engaged in rendering animal fat, bones, and meat scraps. Rendering differentiates this industry from slaughtering and from processing meats from purchased carcasses. The focus is recovering usable materials (e.g., fats/greases) from byproducts rather than producing edible meat cuts. ²

• Is blending animal and vegetable fats included in NAICS 311613?

  • No. Blending purchased animal fats with vegetable fats is classified under NAICS 311225. Rendering in NAICS 311613 covers processing byproducts to recover materials, not refining or blending activities typical of fats and oils manufacturing. ²

• Which industries sit adjacent to NAICS 311613 within animal processing?

  • Adjacent industries include NAICS 311611 (animal slaughtering), NAICS 311612 (processing from purchased carcasses), and NAICS 311615 (poultry processing). These reflect activities distinct from rendering, even when occurring within the same supply chain. ²

• What NAICS vintage applies to current federal economic statistics?

  • The 2022 Economic Census and related statistical series use 2022 NAICS. NAICS remains the federal standard for industry classification across agencies and surveys, and materials are periodically updated to reflect structural changes in the economy. ¹

• Are specific rendered products (for example, tallow, lard) enumerated by NAICS 311613?

  • The definition focuses on the rendering process (animal fat, bones, meat scraps) rather than listing specific output products. Not specified by official sources. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 311613 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS guidance and 2022 vintage overview. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 311613 Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing (definitions and cross-references). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census: Manufacturing (NAICS 31–33) data tables. ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 guidance). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 — 311613 Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing (definitions and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311613&year=2022&details=311613
3. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS Sector 31–33 — Manufacturing Data Tables. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-31-33.html