1.   Notwithstanding the provisions in point IV of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, immediately after slaughter, the category identification letter referred to in point II of Annex XIa to that Regulation shall be indicated on the outside surface of the carcass by using labels or stamps.

The labels shall be of a size not less than 50 cm2. The category identification letter shall be perfectly legible on the label and alterations shall only be permitted as provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 8(3) of this Regulation.

In case stamps are used, the letter shall be not less than two centimetres in height. The letter shall be stamped directly on the surface of the meat using an indelible ink.

The labels or stamps shall 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.

However, Member States may determine other positions on each quarter provided they inform the Commission beforehand. The Commission shall transmit this information to the other Member States.

2.   The indications of the age of the bovine animal on slaughter and the sales description referred to in point IV of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be:

3.   Member States shall notify to the Commission the rules referred to in point IV of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 by 1 July 2009 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendments of these rules.

1.   The official checks referred to in point VII of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall also include the supervision of the classification of bovine animals at the slaughterhouse referred to in point II of Annex XIa to that Regulation.

2.   A competent authority may delegate, totally or partially, its check tasks to one or more independent third-party bodies only where there is a proof that the body:

In particular, the competent authority may delegate its check tasks only where such independent third-party bodies are accredited to comply with the most recent notified version of European Standard EN 45011 or ISO Guide 65 (General requirements for bodies operating products certification systems), published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.

3.   A competent authority wishing to delegate its check tasks to one or more independent third-party bodies shall notify the Commission thereof. The notification shall indicate:

The Commission shall transmit to the Member States the notifications referred to in the first subparagraph.

4.   The independent third-party body performing check tasks shall:

5.   A competent authority delegating check tasks to an independent third-party body, shall, on a regular basis, supervise that body.

If, as a result of that supervision, it appears that such body has failed to properly carry out the check tasks delegated to it, the delegating competent authority may withdraw the delegation.

The competent authority shall withdraw the delegation without delay if the independent third-party body fails to take timely and appropriate remedial action.

6.   At each stage of production and marketing, operators shall at all times grant access to their premises and to all records which prove the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 to the experts of the Commission, the competent authority and the relevant independent third-party bodies.

1.   For the purpose of point VIII of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the competent authority designated by a third country, or failing that, an independent third-party body referred to in point VIII of Annex XIa to that Regulation, shall approve and control an identification and registration system of the bovine animals concerned starting from the day of birth of the animals. Such a system shall provide reliable information about the exact age of the animals on slaughter and provide guarantees as to the respect of point VIII of Annex XIa to that Regulation.

2.   The independent third-party bodies referred to in point VIII of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be accredited to comply with the most recent notified version of European Standard EN 45011 or ISO Guide 65 (General requirements for bodies operating products certification systems) published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.

3.   The name and address, if possible including e-mail and internet address, of the competent authority or independent third-party body referred to in paragraph 1 shall be notified to the Commission, indicating each individual operator for whom they are carrying out checks.

The notification referred to in the first subparagraph shall be made before the first consignment of meat of each individual operator is imported into the Community and thereafter within one month after any changes in the information to be notified.

The Commission shall communicate the notifications referred to in the second subparagraph to the Member States.

4.   Upon request of the competent authorities of the Member States or on its own initiative, the Commission may at any moment request from the competent authority or independent third-party body referred to in paragraph 1 to supply all information necessary to guarantee the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.

The Commission may further request the third country to authorise representatives of the Commission to carry out, where required, on-the-spot checks in that third country. These checks shall be performed jointly with the competent authorities concerned in the third country and, where applicable, with the independent third-party body.

5.   Where, as regards meat imported from third countries, specific cases of non-compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 or of this Regulation are detected, the Commission may fix, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, specific import conditions on a case by case and strictly temporary basis following consultations with the third country concerned. These conditions shall be proportionate to allow verification of compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and of this Regulation.

1.   Where a Member State considers that meat referred to in point I of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and coming from another Member State does not comply with requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 or in this Regulation, it shall immediately inform the competent authority of that Member State and the Commission.

2.   Where a Member State has evidence that meat imported from a third country as referred to in point VIII of Annex XIa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 does not comply with requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 or in this Regulation, it shall immediately inform the Commission.

The Commission shall inform the other Member States accordingly.

3.   Member States shall take whatever measures and action are required to solve the non-compliance referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

In particular, Member States shall require the removal of the meat concerned from the market until it is re-labelled in conformity with Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and this Regulation.