The Bank of England will not withdraw the new polymer £5 notes from circulation nor change its production method for the upcoming £10 but will hold a consultation before agreeing production methods for further print runs and for the new £20 note.
In November 2016 the new fiver, which entered circulation in September, was found to contain minute amounts of animal by-product, tallow.
The public backlash from vegans, vegetarians and religious groups, that followed its discovery forced the Bank of England (BoE) to consider alternative options.
The BoE stated at the time that it had not been aware of the inclusion of animal derivatives in the new notes. As a result of the polymer outcry, the bank also investigated its paper stock and discovered that although no animal derivatives could be traced on finished paper notes, one animal-derived ingredient is in fact used in the recycling of off-cut materials.
In a statement issued recently the BoE said it had now concluded the it would be “appropriate” to keep the existing £5 polymer notes in circulation and push ahead with the new £10 note roll-out planned for September this year.