1.   The Community scale for the classification of carcases in the beef and veal sector shall apply to carcases of adult bovines.

2.   Notwithstanding Part IV(2) of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, Member States may decide that the Community scale referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply to carcases of bovine animals aged on slaughter 12 months or more.

3.   For the application of point A(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, carcases of uncastrated young male animals of less than two years of age (category A) and carcases of other uncastrated male animals (category B) shall be distinguished by the animal’s age.

4.   The age of the bovine animal as referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be verified on the basis of the information available in the bovine animal identification and registration system established in each Member State in accordance with Title I of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

1.   The classification and identification referred to in point A(V) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be carried out in the slaughterhouse itself.

2.   Classification, identification and weighing of a carcase shall take place not later than one hour after the animal has been stuck.

However, in cases where the automated grading techniques referred to in Article 9 fail to classify carcases, classification and identification of these carcases shall take place on the day of slaughter.

3.   The identification of the carcases shall be carried out by means of a mark indicating the category and the class of conformation and fat cover referred to in point A(II) and (III) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 respectively.

This marking shall be carried out by stamping on the outside surface of the carcase using an indelible and non-toxic ink following a method approved by the competent authorities; the letters and figures must be not less than two centimetres in height.

The marks 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 form the cut edge of the sternum. However, Member States may determine other positions on each quarter provided they inform the Commission beforehand.

4.   Without prejudice to Article 4(3)(c) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1669/2006 (14) and point I(a) of Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 (15), Member States may authorise replacement of the marking by the use of labels under the following conditions:

Where classification is carried out by using automated grading techniques referred to in Article 11, the use of labels shall be compulsory.

5.   The marks and labels referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 must not be removed before the quarters are boned.

6.   The category shall be indicated in accordance with point A(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and the provisions in Article 2(3) and (4) of this Regulation.

The indication of subclasses or, where applicable, the breakdown of categories by age shall be by means of symbols other than those used for classification.

7.   The obligations relating to the identification of the carcases set out in paragraphs 3 to 6 shall not apply to approved slaughterhouses which themselves bone all of the carcases obtained.

1.   The results of the classification carried out in accordance with point A(V) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be communicated in writing or by electronic means to the natural and legal person who has the slaughtering carried out.

2.   For the purpose of communicating the classification results, the invoice, or a document attached thereto, addressed to the supplier of the animal, or failing that, to the physical or legal person responsible for the slaughter operations shall indicate per carcase:

3.   Member States may require that the communication referred to in paragraph 2, point (a) includes subclasses for conformation and fat cover, where such information is available.

The indication of the carcase presentation referred to under paragraph 2, point (c) shall not be compulsory if only one single carcase presentation is allowed under legislation adopted at Member State level.

1.   Member States may grant a licence authorising automated grading techniques for application in their territory or a part thereof.

Authorisation shall be subject to meeting the conditions and minimum requirements for a certification test laid down in Annex II, part A.

At least two months prior to the start of the certification test, Member States shall provide the Commission with the information referred to in Annex II, part B. Member States shall designate an independent body which shall analyse the results of the certification test. Within two months upon completion of the certification test, Member States shall provide the Commission with the information referred to in Annex II, part C.

2.   Where a licence is granted authorising automated grading techniques based on a certification test during which more than one carcase presentation was used, the differences between those carcase presentations shall not lead to differences in the classification results.

3.   After having informed the Commission, Member States may grant a licence authorising automated grading techniques for application in their territory or a part thereof without organising the certification test, provided such a licence has already been granted for the same automated grading techniques for application in another part of that Member State concerned or in another Member State on the basis of a certification test with a sample of carcases that they consider to be equally representative, in terms of category, classes of conformation and of fat cover, of the adult bovine animals slaughtered in the Member State concerned or a part thereof.

4.   Modifications of the technical specifications of the automated grading techniques for which a licence was granted shall only be allowed after having obtained the approval of the competent authorities of the Member State concerned and subject to proof that such modifications result in at least the same level of accuracy than that obtained during the certification test.

Member States shall inform the Commission of any such modifications for which they have given their approval.

1.   Establishments operating classification by using automated grading techniques shall:

2.   Classification by automated grading techniques shall be valid only if:

1.   The performance of the classifiers referred to in Article 8 as well as the classification and identification of the carcases in the establishments covered by point A(V) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be checked on the spot without prior warning by a body independent of the classification agencies and of the establishments.

However, the requirement to be independent of the classification agencies shall not apply where the competent authority itself carries out such controls.

2.   Checks must be carried out at least twice every three months in all approved establishments which slaughter more than 75 adult bovine animals per week as an annual average. Each check must relate to at least 40 carcases, selected at random.

However, in approved establishments which slaughter 75 adult bovine animals or less per week as an annual average, Member States shall determine the frequency of the checks and the minimum number of carcases to be checked on the basis of their risk assessment, particularly taking into account the number of slaughterings of adult bovines in the slaughterhouses concerned and the findings during previous checks in these slaughterhouses.

Member States shall notify to the Commission the measures they have taken for the application of the provisions in the second subparagraph by 1 July 2009 at the latest and thereafter within one month after any changes in the information to be notified.

3.   In all approved establishments operating classification by using automated grading techniques, at least six checks must be carried out every three months during the first 12 months after the licence referred to in Article 9(1) was granted. Thereafter checks must be carried out at least twice every three months in all approved establishments operating classification by using automated grading techniques. Each check must relate to at least 40 carcases, selected at random. The checks shall in particular verify:

4.   Where the body responsible for checks does not fall under the authority of a public body, the checks provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3 must be carried out under the physical supervision of a public body under the same conditions and at least once a year. The public body shall be informed regularly of the findings of the body responsible for checks.

1.   Reports referring to the checks referred to in Article 11 shall be made and kept by the national controlling bodies. These reports shall include in particular the number of carcases checked and the number of those which were incorrectly classified or identified. They shall also give full details of the type of carcase presentations used, and where applicable, of their conformity with Community rules.

2.   In cases where a significant number of incorrect classifications or of identifications failing to comply with the rules is ascertained during the checks referred to in Article 11:

1.   The market price to be established on the basis of the Community classification scale referred to in Article 42(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be the price paid to the supplier for the animal upon delivery to the slaughterhouse, net of value added tax. The said price shall be expressed per 100 kg of carcase presented in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article, weighed and classified on the hook at the slaughterhouse.

2.   The weight to be taken into account shall be the warm weight of the carcase taken not later than one hour after the animal has been stuck.

The cold weight of the carcase shall correspond to the warm weight as referred to in the first subparagraph less 2 %.

3.   For the purpose of establishing market prices, the carcase shall be presented without the removal of external fat, the neck being cut in accordance with veterinary requirements:

4.   For the application of the second subparagraph of point A(V) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and by way of derogation of paragraph 3 of this Article, the removal of external fat shall involve exclusively the partial removal of external fat:

5.   In the case where the presentation of the carcase, at the moment of weighing and classifying on the hook, differs from the presentation provided for in paragraph 3, the weight of the carcase shall be adjusted by application of the corrective factors specified in Annex III in order to progress from that presentation to the reference presentation. In this case the price for each 100 kg of carcase shall be adjusted accordingly.

Where the adjustments referred to in the first subparagraph are the same throughout the territory of a Member State, they shall be calculated on a national basis. Where such adjustments vary from one slaughterhouse to another, they shall be calculated individually.

1.   National and Community recording of market prices on the basis of the Community classification scale referred to in Article 42(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be carried out each week and shall relate to the following conformation and fat cover classes for the five categories specified in point A(II) of Annex V to that Regulation:

2.   Member States shall decide whether their territory is to comprise a single region or whether to divide it into more than one region. This decision shall be taken on the basis of:

However, the United Kingdom shall comprise at least two regions, namely Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which may be subdivided on the basis of the criteria referred to in the first subparagraph.

1.   The following shall be required to record prices:

The Member State shall ensure that prices are recorded for at least:

2.   The prices recorded under paragraph 1 shall be those which relate to adult bovine animals slaughtered during the recording period concerned, on the basis of the cold weight of the carcase as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 13(2).

In the case of a slaughterhouse which slaughters adult bovine animals reared by it or on its behalf, the price recorded shall be the average price paid for carcases of the equivalent category and class, slaughtered during the same week in that slaughterhouse.

The prices recorded for each class referred to in Article 14(1) shall indicate the average carcase weight to which they relate and whether or not they have been corrected to take into account each of the elements referred to in Article 13.

1.   The prices recorded in accordance with Article 15 in the period from Monday to Sunday, shall:

However, where a Member State has established a committee to determine prices for a region, and where the membership of such committee is divided equally between buyers and sellers of adult bovine animals and their carcases, the chairman being employed by the competent authority, that Member State may direct that the prices and details be sent direct to the chairman of the committee in the relevant region. In the event that the Member State does not so direct, the competent authority shall send them to the chairman of that committee. The chairman shall ensure that the origin of each price cannot be identified when communicated to the members of the committee.

2.   The prices reported shall be the average price per class.

3.   Any slaughterhouse or natural or legal person referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 15(1) which makes supplementary payments to suppliers of adult bovine animals or their carcases, such payments not being taken into account in the prices reported, shall notify the competent authority of its Member State of the last supplementary payment made by it, and the period to which it relates. Thereafter it shall notify the Member State of the amount of any supplementary payments each time such payment is made.

4.   The competent authority of the Member State shall determine average regional prices for each class referred to in Article 14(1) from the prices reported to it under paragraph 1 of this Article.

The committees referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article shall determine average regional prices for each class referred to in Article 14(1) from the prices reported to them under paragraph 1 of this Article and shall report them to the competent authority of the Member State.

5.   In the case of flat-rate purchases, where the carcases in a consignment relate to not more than three consecutive conformation classes and three consecutive fat cover classes in the same category, the price shall be taken into account in the determination of prices under paragraph 4 for the conformation class in which the largest number of carcases is classified or, if they are equally divided amongst the classes, for the middle of those classes, where such class exists. In all other cases the price shall not be taken into account.

However, where flat-rate purchases account for less than 35 % of total slaughterings of adult bovine animals in the Member State, it may decide not to take the prices for such purchases into account in the calculations under paragraph 4.

6.   An initial national price for each class shall then be calculated by the competent authority by weighting the regional prices to take into account the importance of the slaughterings in the region to which they relate for the category concerned in relation to the overall number of slaughterings for the category concerned in the Member State.

7.   The competent authority shall correct the initial national price per class referred to in paragraph 6:

In making the correction under point (c), the competent authority shall divide the total supplementary payments made in relation to the beef sector in the Member State concerned in the previous financial year, by the total annual throughput in tonnes of adult bovine animals for which prices are reported.

8.   Where, in the opinion of the competent authority of the Member State, the prices reported to it:

1.   In accordance with Article 36, Member States shall communicate to the Commission the prices calculated in accordance with Article 16(4) to (7). They shall not communicate those prices to any other body before they have communicated them to the Commission.

2.   Where, in exceptional circumstances or for reasons of seasonality of supply, prices relating to a significant number of carcases of one or more classes referred to in Article 14(1) cannot be recorded in a Member State or region, the Commission may use the last prices recorded for the said class or classes before such occurrence; where such a situation continues for more than two consecutive weeks, the Commission may decide on the temporary elimination of the class or classes in question for price reporting purposes and on the temporary redistribution of the weighting or weightings allocated to those classes.

1.   For a given category:

2.   The average Community price for all categories together shall be the weighted average of the average prices referred to in paragraph 1(c). Weighting shall be based on the proportion of each category to total slaughterings of adult bovine animals in the Community.

1.   The Community classification scale of pig carcases referred to in Article 42(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be used by all slaughterhouses for grading all carcases in order to enable producers to receive fair payment based on the weight and composition of the pigs they have delivered to the slaughterhouse.

2.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may decide not to make application of this scale obligatory in slaughterhouses:

The Member States concerned shall notify the Commission of their decision referred to in the first subparagraph, specifying the maximum permitted number of slaughters in each of the slaughterhouses which are exempt from application of the Community scale.

1.   Pig carcases shall be graded, in accordance with the classification defined in point B(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, at the time of weighing.

In respect of pigs slaughtered in their territory, Member States may be authorised to allow classification before weighing, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.

2.   In accordance with Article 43(m)(iv) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the provisions of point B(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and of paragraph 1 of this Article, do not exclude, as regards pigs slaughtered in the territory of a Member State, the use of assessment criteria in addition to weight and estimated lean-meat content.

3.   Immediately after grading, pig carcases shall be marked with the capital letter denoting the class of the carcase or the percentage of estimated lean meat as laid down in point B(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.

The letters or numerals must be at least two centimetres high. Any non-toxic, indelible and heat-resistant ink may be used for marking as well as any other form of permanent marking authorised in advance by the competent national authorities.

Without prejudice to the first subparagraph, particulars of carcase weight or any other particulars considered appropriate may be marked on the carcase.

Half-carcases shall be marked on the skin of the hind shank or the ham.

A label affixed in such a manner that it cannot be removed without being damaged shall also be an acceptable form of marking.

4.   By way of derogation from paragraph 3, Member States may lay down that pig carcases need not be marked if an official record is drawn up comprising for each carcase at least:

This record must be kept for six months and, on the day when it is drawn up, be certified as a true original certificate by a person entrusted with this verification task.

However, in order to be marketed uncut in another Member State, carcases shall be marked in accordance with the appropriate class, as provided for in point B(II) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, or in accordance with the percentage expressing their lean-meat content.

5.   Without prejudice to the second paragraph of point B(III) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, no fat, muscle or other tissue may be removed from the carcase before weighing, grading and marking.

1.   For the purposes of application of Article 42(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the weight shall apply to the cold carcase presented as described in point B(III) of Annex V to that Regulation.

2.   The carcase shall be weighed as soon as possible after slaughter and not more than 45 minutes after the pig has been stuck.

The cold carcase weight shall correspond to the warm weight recorded as referred to in the first subparagraph less 2 %.

If, in a given slaughterhouse, the 45-minute period between the sticking and the weighing of the pig cannot generally be observed, the competent authority of the Member State concerned may allow this period to be exceeded provided that the deduction of 2 % specified in the second subparagraph shall be reduced by 0,1 point for every additional quarter of an hour or part thereof that has elapsed.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, the weight of the cold carcase may be calculated by reference to predetermined scales of absolute weight reductions established by Member States in accordance with the characteristics of their pig herds and notified to the Commission. The use of such scales shall be authorised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, if the reductions for individual weight classes correspond, as far as possible, to the reductions resulting from paragraphs 1 and 2.

1.   For the purposes of application of point B(IV) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the lean-meat content of a pig carcase shall be the relationship between:

The total weight of the red striated muscles is obtained either by total dissection of the carcase or by partial dissection of the carcase or by combination of total or partial dissection with a national quick method based on proven statistical methods adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.

The dissection referred to in the second subparagraph may also be replaced by assessing the lean meat percentage by means of total dissection with a computer tomography apparatus on the condition that satisfactory comparative dissection results are provided.

2.   The standard statistical method for assessing the lean-meat content of pig carcases authorised as a grading method within the meaning of point B(IV) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be either ordinary least squares or rank reduced methods, but other statistically proven methods may be used.

The method shall be based on a representative sample of the national or regional pigmeat production concerned, consisting of at least 120 carcases whose lean-meat content has been ascertained in accordance with the dissection method laid down in Annex IV to this Regulation. If multiple sampling methods are used, the reference shall be measured on at least 50 carcases and the precision shall be at least equal to that obtained using the standard statistical method on 120 carcases using the method in Annex IV.

3.   Grading methods shall be authorised only if the root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP), computed by a full cross-validation technique or by a test set validation on a representative sample of at least 60 carcases, is less than 2,5. In addition, any outliers shall be included in the calculation of RMSEP.

4.   Member States shall inform the Commission, by way of a protocol, of the grading methods they wish to have authorised for application in their territory, describing the dissection trial, indicating the principles on which these methods are based and the equations used for assessing the percentage of lean meat. The protocol should have two parts and should include the elements provided for in Annex V. Part one of the protocol is presented to the Commission prior to the start of the dissection trial.

Application of grading methods in the territory of a Member State shall be authorised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 on the basis of the protocol.

5.   The application of grading methods must correspond in all particulars to the description given in the Community Decision authorising them.

1.   The grading, weighing and marking of the pig carcases in the establishments referred to in Article 20 shall be checked on the spot without prior warning by a body independent of the classification agencies and of the establishments.

However, the requirement to be independent of the classification agencies shall not apply where the competent authority itself carries out such controls.

2.   Checks must be carried out at least twice every three months in all approved establishments which slaughter 200 pigs or more per week as an annual average.

However, for approved establishments which slaughter less than 200 pigs per week as an annual average, Member States shall determine the frequency of the checks.

3.   For the application of the provisions in paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States shall:

4.   Where the body responsible for checks does not fall under the responsibility of a public body, the checks provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 must be carried out under the physical supervision of a public body under the same conditions and at least once a year. The public body shall be informed regularly of the findings of the body responsible for checks.

1.   The market price for pig carcases in a Member State shall be equal to the average of the quotations for pig carcases recorded on the representative markets or quotation centres of that Member State.

2.   The price referred to in paragraph 1 shall be determined using the quotations recorded for carcases weighing:

The choice of weight categories and any weighing thereof shall be left to the Member States concerned; the latter shall inform the Commission thereof.

3.   Member States shall notify to the Commission the representative markets or quotation centres referred to in paragraph 1 by 1 July 2009 at the latest and thereafter within one month after any changes in the information to be notified.

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

1.   The average Community market price for pig carcases referred to in Articles 17 and 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be determined on the basis of the prices on entry into the slaughterhouse, excluding value added tax, paid to suppliers of live pigs.

2.   The prices determined under paragraph 1 shall include the value of the unprocessed offal and animal residues and shall be expressed in respect of 100 kg of cold pig carcases:

3.   For the calculation of the Community market price as provided in paragraph 1, the prices recorded in each Member State shall be weighted by using coefficients expressing the relative size of the pig population of each Member State.

The coefficients referred to in the first subparagraph shall be determined on the basis of the number of pigs counted at the beginning of December each year in accordance with Council Directive 93/23/EEC (16).

1.   In accordance with Article 36, Member States shall communicate to the Commission:

2.   Where one or more quotations are not received by the Commission, the latter shall take into account the last quotation available. Where a quotation or quotations are missing for the third consecutive week, the Commission shall no longer take that or those quotations into account.

3.   The Member States shall, at the Commission’s request, communicate the following information, where available, concerning products covered by Part XVII of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007:

1.   For the purposes of application of the criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of point C(III) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the rules laid down in Annex VI to this Regulation shall apply.

2.   The meat colour, referred to in Annex VI, shall be determined on the flank at the rectus abdominis by reference to a standardised colour chart.

1.   The classification and identification referred to in point C(III) and C(V) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be carried out in the slaughterhouse itself.

2.   Classification, identification and weighing of the carcases shall be made not later than one hour after the animal has been stuck.

3.   The identification of the carcases or half-carcases classified according to the scale referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 42(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 in participating establishments shall be carried out by means of a mark indicating the category and the class of conformation and fat cover.

That marking shall be carried out by stamping, using an indelible and non-toxic ink following a method approved by the competent national authorities.

Categories shall be designated as follows:

4.   Member States may authorise the replacement of the marking by the use of an unalterable and firmly attachable label.

1.   The performance of the classifiers referred to in Article 31 as well as the classification and identification of the carcases in the participating establishments shall be checked on the spot, without prior warning, by a body designated by the Member State and independent of the classification agencies and of the participating establishment.

However, the requirement to be independent of the classification agencies shall not apply where the competent authority itself carries out such controls.

Where the body responsible for checks does not fall under the authority of a public body, the checks provided for in the first subparagraph must, at least once a year, be carried out under the physical supervision of a public body under the same conditions. The public body shall be informed regularly of the findings of the body responsible for checks.

2.   These checks must be carried out at least once every three months in all participating establishments which operate classification and slaughter 80 sheep or more per week as an annual average. Each check must relate to at least 40 carcases, selected at random.

However, in participating establishments which slaughter less than 80 sheep per week as an annual average, Member States shall determine the frequency of the checks and the minimum number of carcases to be checked on the basis of their risk assessment, particularly taking into account the number of slaughterings of sheep in the establishments concerned and the findings during previous checks in these establishments.

1.   The market price to be established on the basis of the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals, referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 42(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 shall be the price at entry to the slaughterhouse, net of value added tax paid to the supplier for lamb of Community origin. This price shall be expressed per 100 kg carcase weight presented according to the reference presentation provided for in point C(IV) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 weighed and classified on the hook at the slaughterhouse.

2.   The weight to be taken into account shall be the warm weight of the carcase corrected to take account of weight loss on chilling. Member States shall inform the Commission of the corrective factors used.

3.   In the case where the presentation of carcases after weighing and classifying on the hook differs from the reference presentation, Member States shall adjust the weight of the carcase by the application of corrective factors provided for in the second subparagraph of point C(IV) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007. Member States shall notify the Commission of the corrective factors used.

1.   Member States whose sheepmeat production exceeds 200 tonnes per year shall communicate to the Commission the confidential list of the slaughterhouses or other establishments participating for the establishment of prices according to the Community scale (hereinafter ‘participating establishment’) together with an indication of the approximate annual throughput of these participating establishments.

2.   In accordance with Article 36, the Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall communicate to the Commission the average price for each quality of lamb within the Community scales for all participation establishments, together with an indication of the size of each quality. However, where a quality makes up less than 1 % of the total, prices need not to be reported. Member States shall also communicate to the Commission the average price on a weight basis for all classified lamb in each scale used for price reporting purposes.

However, Member States are authorised to subdivide price reported for each of the classes of conformation and degrees of fat cover provided for in paragraph 1 of point C(III) of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 on the basis of weight. The term ‘quality’ shall mean the combination of class of conformation and of fat cover.

1.   No later than 12 noon, Brussels time, on Wednesday each week, Member States shall communicate to the Commission the market prices or quotations referred to in Articles 17(1), 27(1) and 34(2) of this Regulation.

The prices or quotations shall relate to the period from Monday to Sunday preceding the week in which the information is communicated.

The prices or quotations reported shall be expressed in euro or, where applicable, in national currency.

2.   The communications referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made by electronic means using the form made available to the Member States by the Commission.

1.   The weighing coefficients referred to in Articles 18, 26(3) and 35 of this Regulation shall be revised periodically to take into account trends recorded at national and Community levels.

2.   For each revision referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall communicate to the Member States the revised weighting coefficients.

1.   The Community inspection committee referred to in Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, hereafter referred to as ‘the Committee’, shall be responsible for carrying out on-the-spot inspections covering:

2.   The Committee shall be composed of at most:

The Member States shall appoint experts on the basis of their independence and ability, particularly in matters of classification of carcases and recording of market prices and of the specific nature of the work to be carried out.

Experts shall not under any circumstances use for personal purposes or divulge information obtained in connection with the work of the Committee.

3.   Inspections shall be carried out at slaughterhouses, meat markets, intervention centres, price quotation centres and regional and central services engaged in the implementation of the provisions referred to in paragraph 1.

4.   Inspections shall be carried out at regular intervals in Member States and their frequency may vary in particular according to the relative volume of beef and sheep production in the Member States visited or to problems linked to the application of the classification scales.

The programme of inspection visits shall be drawn up by the Commission after consulting the Member States. Representatives of the Member State visited may take part in the inspections.

Each Member State shall organise the visits which are to be carried out on its territory according to the requirements defined by the Commission. To that end, the Member State shall forward, 30 days before the visit, the detailed programme of the proposed inspection visits to the Commission, which may request any amendment to the programme.

The Commission shall inform Member States as far in advance as possible before each visit of the programme and conduct thereof.

5.   On completion of each visit, the members of the Committee and the representatives of the Member State visited shall meet to consider the results. The members of the Committee shall then draw conclusions from the visit concerning the points referred to in paragraph 1.

The Committee chairman shall draw up a report on the inspections conducted and containing the conclusions referred to in the first subparagraph. The report shall be sent at the earliest possibility to the Member State inspected and to the other Member States subsequently.

When the report referred to in the second subparagraph notes shortcomings in the various fields of activity which were the subject of verification, or makes recommendations with a view to improving operations, the Member States shall inform the Commission of all changes which are envisaged or have taken place not later than three months after the date on which the report was transmitted.

6.   Travel and subsistence expenses of members of the Committee shall be borne by the Commission in accordance with the rules applicable to the reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses of persons unconnected with the Commission who are called upon by it to act as experts.

1.   Member States shall take all necessary measures:

2.   Member States shall inform the Commission of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 as soon as possible.