IMPLEMENTATION OF EU RULES ON THE MARKETING OF THE MEAT OF BOVINE ANIMALS AGED 12 MONTHS OR LESS
Question and Answer Guidance Note
Index
Section A - Timing
Section B - Summary of new rules
Section C - Classification at the Slaughterhouse
Section D - Labelling/Sales Descriptions
Section E - Recording Obligations for Operators
Section F - Meat imported from third (non- EU) countries
Section G - Enforcement
Section H - Powers of entry
Section I - Penalties
Section J - Contact point for advice
Section A: Timing
Q1. When did the new EU rules come into force?
A1. The new EU rules are directly applicable and applied from 1 July 2008.
Q2. What is the position for meat from animals aged 12 months or less and slaughtered before 1 July 2008?
A2. This meat may continue to be marketed without meeting the requirements of the new EU rules.
Section B: Summary of new rules
Q3. What is the purpose of the new rules?
A3. The new EU legislation lays down conditions for the marketing in the Community of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less. It applies to meat in this category slaughtered on or after 1 July 2008, whether produced in the Community or imported from third (i.e. non- EU) countries. This is intended to provide clearer information for consumers and trade, particularly in the marketing and labelling of veal.
Q4. What is the definition of 'meat 'as covered by these rules?
A4. 'Meat' means all carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, intended for human consumption, obtained from bovine animals aged 12 months or less, presented fresh, frozen or deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed.
Q5. Where are these rules laid down in EU legislation?
A5. The rules were originally published as Council Regulation ( EC) No.700/2007 of 11 June 2007 ( OJ 161 of 22 June 2007). With effect from 1 July 2008, these rules have been incorporated into Regulation ( EC) 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products ('Single CMO Regulation') by way of the amendment contained in Council Regulation ( EC) No. 361/2008 of 14 April 2008 ( OJ 121 of 7 May 2008).
The Commission implementing rules are laid down in Commission Regulation ( EC) No. 566/2008 of 18 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation ( EC)No.1234/2007 as regards the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less.
Section C: Classification at the slaughterhouse
Q6. What classification is required?
A6. On slaughter, all bovine animals aged 12 months or less must be classified by the operators into one of the following 2 categories:-
Q7. Does Category Z include fast growing young bulls reared under a normal beef finishing system that reach slaughter weight at less than 12 months of age as well as calves formerly reared to 8 months and over under a rosé veal system?
A7. Yes.
Q8. Where must the category identification letters be placed and by what means?
A8. Immediately after slaughter, the category identification letter must be indicated on the outside surface of the carcase by using labels or stamps.
Q9. Do the labels and stamps need to be a particular size?
A9. Yes. The labels must be of a size not less than 50cm 2. The category identification letter must be perfectly legible on the label. (Alterations will only be allowed where meat has to be re-labelled in conformity with the EU legislation, due to non-compliance.)
In cases where stamps are used, the letter must be not less than two centimetres in height. The letter must be stamped directly on the surface of the meat using an indelible ink.
Q10. Where must the labels or stamps be placed?
A10. The labels or stamps must be applied on the hindquarters on the striploin at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra and on the forequarters, on the brisket between 10 and 30 centimetres from the cut edge of the sternum.
Section D: Labelling / Sales Descriptions
Q11. Are the new EU sales descriptions compulsory?
A11. Yes, the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less can only be marketed in the Member States under the sales description(s) listed in the EU legislation for each Member State. The sales description may be supplemented by an indication of the name or designation of the pieces of meat or offal concerned.
Q12. What are the sales descriptions for meat marketed in the UK?
A12. Meat from animals slaughtered aged 8 months or less must be described as 'veal'; meat from animals slaughtered aged more than 8 months but not more than 12 months must be described as 'beef '.
Q13. Do sales descriptions vary between Member States?
A13. Yes, the required sales descriptions for each Member State are laid down in the relevant EU legislation, namely, Annex X1a to Regulation ( EC) No.1234/2007 as amended (previously Annex II of Council Regulation ( EC) No.700/2007).
Q14. What information must be included on the label?
A14. At each stage of production and marketing, the meat must be labelled with the following information:-
The above wording may be replaced by the category identification letter (V or Z) except on release to the final consumer. ('Final consumer' is defined as the ultimate consumer of cut meat who does not use it as part of a food business operation or activity.)
The indications of the age of the bovine animal on slaughter and the sales description must be:-
(a) Clearly legible at each stage of production and marketing;
(b) presented in the same visual field and on the same label at the point of sale of the meat to the final consumer.
Q15. What are the rules for labelling meat presented for sale un-prepacked at the point of retail sale to the final consumer?
A15. Un-prepacked meat must be labelled with the information listed above.
Member States are required to lay down rules on how the information is to be indicated and notify these rules to the Commission by 1 July 2009 at the latest. We will be seeking views from the industry over the next 2-3 months.
Q16. What is the position on labelling regarding mixed batches of offal?
A16. These mixtures are allowed provided that they are appropriately labelled i.e. if the mixture includes offal from bovines of less than 8 months and of bovines between 8 and 12 months, both sales descriptions and age brackets should be mentioned on the label. The age brackets may be replaced by the corresponding category identification letter V or Z at each stage of production and marketing, except on release to the final consumer.
Q17. Can the wording 'calves liver' be used in relation to the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less, provided that the meat in question is also labelled with the appropriate descriptor?
A17. The use of the wording 'calves liver' as a supplement to the sales description is acceptable in the case of livers from bovines aged less than 8 months (i.e. Category V) . However, use of the wording 'calves liver' should not be used in the case of bovines from 8 to 12 months (i.e. Category Z) in the UK because we have designated any meat of 8 months and above as 'beef' and calling it 'calves liver' could cause confusion among consumers.
Q18. Can additional information be included on the label?
A18. Yes. Operators may supplement the compulsory information by optional information in accordance with the procedure laid down in relation to the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme (BLS) - see below.
Q19. Are producers and sellers of veal (Category V) permitted to label their product as 'rosé veal'?
A19. No. The term 'rosé veal' appears in Annex X1a III 2(B) of Council Regulation 1234/07 (as amended) for use with Category Z animals only and may only be used in this way in the Member States that have decided to do so. We have chosen to use the term 'beef' to apply to Category Z animals to reflect the majority of production in this age category, but in the Commission's view this does not leave us free to use the term 'rosé veal' for animals under 8 months as they believe this could lead to confusion amongst consumers across the single market.
Q20. Why did the UK opt to categorise meat from bovine animals aged more than 8 months but not more than 12 months (Category Z) as 'beef' while other Member States opted to describe it as 'rose veal' or similar?
A20. UK Agriculture Departments consulted the industry widely on this. There is more meat sold as beef from fast growing young bulls on cereal based feeding systems than there currently is from rosé veal production systems so on balance it was decided to opt for 'beef' in this category. There is the option under the regulation to apply to the Commission for the description to be changed in the future for Category Z if the UK industry as a whole decided that this was desirable.
Q21. Are producers permitted to add supplementary descriptions on the label to the compulsory descriptions 'veal' (Category V) or 'beef' (Category Z)?
A21. The new Regulation provides that operators may supplement the compulsory information by optional information approved in accordance with the procedure provided for in Articles 16 or 17 of Regulation ( EC) No. 1760/2000 (i.e. under the provisions of the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme). They may therefore apply under the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme to use supplementary descriptions which, for example, refer to the manner in which the calves are reared in relation to their feeding and housing conditions in order to produce welfare friendly veal or beef.
Q22. How do producers and sellers apply for approval under the Beef Labelling Scheme to label their meat with this supplementary information?
A22. They need to apply for approval by completing the relevant Beef Labelling Scheme Application form. Businesses in Scotland should contact our beef labelling section at the following address:
Scottish Government
Rural Directorate
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh
EH14 1TY
Tel. No: 0131-244-6425/6408
If your business is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you should apply to the appropriate authorities:
The Rural Payments Agency's Meat Technical Schemes unit in Carlisle (Telephone: 01228 640369 or e-mail: MTS.carlisle@rpa.gsi.gov.uk).
National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department (NAWAD), Tel No: 01970 613295
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Tel No: 0289 0524341
Q23. Is it possible for the meat to have two or more different labels on it at the same time covering the sales descriptions in, say, two Member States?
A23. The sales description applicable for the Member State in which the meat is marketed needs to be put on the label. The EU legislation does not explicitly exclude the possibility of putting on the same label the descriptions listed in other Member States provided that the relevant provisions of Directive 2000/13/ EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 as amended (on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs) are respected.
Section E: Recording Obligations for Operators
Q24. What records must be kept?
A24. At each stage of production and marketing, operators must record the following information:-
an indication of a reference number making it possible to establish a link between, on the one hand, the identification of the animals from which the meat originates and, on the other hand, the sales description, the age at slaughter and the category identification letter given on the meat label,
Section F: Meat imported from Third (non- EU) Countries
Q25. Are imports from third countries subject to the same marketing rules?
A25. Yes.
Q26. What are the procedures for third country operators wishing to place meat on the Community market?
A26. Such operators must have their activities checked by the competent authority designated by that third country or, failing that, an independent third-party body, as provided for in EU legislation.
Section G: Enforcement
Q27. What domestic legislation is being made to enforce the new EU provisions?
A27. A new Scottish Statutory Instrument (The Beef and Veal Labelling (Scotland) Regulations 2008) is providing appropriate enforcement powers along similar lines that are in existence at present for the existing EU beef labelling legislation. These Regulations replaced the Beef Labelling (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2001
Q28. Who will enforce the new provisions in Scotland?
A28. Inspections in abattoirs and cutting plants will be made by inspectors from the Scottish Government Rural Directorate and at retail level by local authority Trading Standards Officers.
As regards imports, the EU implementing legislation puts responsibility on the third country competent authority/independent third-party body to approve and control an identification and registration system. Checks on imports will be made along similar lines to the current beef labelling system.
Section H: Powers of Entry
Q29. What are the obligations on operators?
A29. At each stage of production and marketing, operators are required at all times to grant access to their premises and to all their records to demonstrate to Commission experts, the competent authority of the Member State and the relevant independent third-party bodies that all the requirements have been met as laid down in EU legislation.
Section I: Penalties
Q30. What are the penalties for non-compliance with the legislation?
A30. These are laid down in the EU rules and the domestic implementing legislation according to the circumstances.
Section J: Contact point for advice
The scheme is administered in Scotland by the Scottish Government Rural Directorate. If you have any questions about the new rules or require further advice please contact us at the address shown.
A copy of this guidance, along with other information on beef labelling, is available on the Scottish Government website at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/Agricultural-Policy/LivestockAndLivestockProd/beef/Labelling
NOTE
This note reflects UK Agricultural Departments guidance in relation to the implementation of the EU legislation. It is, however, for a Court of Law to give the final interpretation.