GUIDANCE ON MARKING OF FRESH MEAT AND FRESH MEAT PRODUCTS FROM ANIMALS REARED AND SLAUGHTERED IN THE RESTRICTED ZONE (RZ)
Scope
This guidance relates to the marking and control of fresh meat and products containing fresh meat from FMD susceptible animals originating in Great Britain;
For the purposes of this guidance all the fresh meat and fresh meat products referred to above will be described as GB meat.
This guidance is not an indication of where or under what conditions meat can be produced. Those wishing to produce meat should look carefully at the restrictions on animal movements and abattoir operations in their area.
Background
• Commission Decision 2007/552/EC of 6 August requires the special marking of GB meat and provides for the use of either the crossed mark described in Council Directive 2002/99/EC or the round mark described in the 2001 Commission Decision on marking (2001/304/EC)
• On 24th August the Decision was amended and the marking requirement only applied to meat that was slaughtered from that date inside what was then the SZ
• The Decision was further amended on 13 September and reverted to applying to the whole of GB
• The special marking is required at all stages including retail packaging unless the GB meat has been subject to one of the treatments specified for eliminating the FMD virus
• The special marking is not required for GB meat if it is sold "loose" in retail premises e.g. at a retail butchers
• The purpose of the special mark is to identify meat and meat products that are "ineligible" for export from the UK. The mark is to be used instead of the normal oval mark
• Controls prevent the export of "ineligible" meat and meat products, a potential exporter is required to obtain certification of eligibility to export
• Commission Decision 2001/304/EC contains no requirement to control marked meat downstream from the abattoir. The normal public health requirements regarding traceability will therefore apply
• The size of the round stamp is prescribed in Commission Decision 2001/304/EC but can be varied for fresh meat in retail packs or any packs of meat products
• Commission Decision 2001/304/EC permits the round stamp to be applied as well as the normal oval stamp for a transitional period
Requirements
• All GB meat derived from animals slaughtered between 6-24 August and after 13 September must be marked with either the crossed mark or the round mark described above
• From 24 August to 13 September only GB meat from animals slaughtered inside what was then the SZ must be marked with either the crossed mark or the round mark described above. During that period GB meat from outside what was then the SZ can be marked with an oval mark
• Marking of GB meat with either of the required marks must apply at all stages including on the packaging where it is pre-packed for retail sale
• The size of the round mark may be varied for fresh GB meat in retail packs or any packs of meat products
• The mark is to be applied instead of the oval health mark
• In the case of the round mark it can be applied as well as the oval for a transitional period to 12 November 2007
• The requirement to apply the appropriate mark will apply to any GB meat derived from animals slaughtered between 15 July 2007 and the future lifting of this requirement. This means, for example, GB meat derived from animals slaughtered on 20 July 2007 and then placed in cold store will need to display the appropriate mark at all stages to pre-packed retail sale even if not removed from cold store for many months
• GB meat that is marked with a round or crossed mark will still be eligible to enter the domestic market after the requirement to use these marks has ended. But it will not be eligible for intra-community trade or export.
FMD Meat Issues Policy Team, Defra
19 September 2007