UK association the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said it had been lobbying on this issue for several years.
Duncan Priestner, poultry board chairman, NFU, said: "This represents a massive, positive development for the poultry industry, one which embraces new technology and is keen to make use of on-farm by-products, both to the benefit of business and the environment, by relying less on traditional energy sources."
He said there were other potential benefits, such as healthier birds, minimised biosecurity risks and the opportunity to use nutrient-rich ash on farmland.
The new rules form part of the Animal By-Product Implementing Regulations, which have now been published in the European Union’s Official Journal.