16.3.2007   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 76/12

(1)

The definition of the groups referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and the question of their homogeneity have been interpreted differently. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1825/2000 (2) should therefore specify how those groups are to be made up.

(2)

Various questions have been raised about the labelling of minced beef when it is mixed with meats of other species. Section I of Part One of Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (3) lays down specific rules for the classification of products made up of such mixtures. A reference to that nomenclature by means of the CN codes referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 will provide the necessary clarification.

(3)

Constraints as regards homogeneity resulting from the application of Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 make it difficult for producers of cut meats and trimmings to establish homogeneous groups of sufficient size to meet customer requirements. These difficulties are exacerbated when large quantities are ordered. Experience has shown that these difficulties and the substantial additional operations they involve result in numerous errors that often compromise the traceability of this type of product.

(4)

Where possible, operators are tending more and more to choose one of the few large suppliers in order to avoid the additional constraints involved in managing several groups with different characteristics. Over time, this could threaten the continued existence of certain small and medium-sized slaughterhouses and cutting plants, which may be excluded from certain markets.

(5)

The problems encountered by producers of cut meats and trimmings are similar to those experienced by producers of minced meat. Adopting for trimmings measures similar to those laid down for minced meat would resolve the problems faced by the operators concerned. As regards cut meats, experience has shown that the vast majority of these problems could be resolved by allowing groups to be reconstituted from the meat of animals slaughtered in three slaughterhouses and from carcases cut up in three cutting plants, while ensuring traceability.

(6)

Experience has also shown that operators often have difficulties in applying the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regards labelling in outlets for the sale of non-pre-packaged cut meats to the final consumer. Meat is generally cut and sold in such establishments at the request of the customer, which makes it impossible, or at least very difficult, to constitute in advance groups of animals within the meaning of Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. Similarly, constantly updating in real time the compulsory information on labels in step with the permanent restocking of sales counters is very difficult. Simplified labelling rules therefore need to be adopted for these products. The adoption for these products of rules similar to those already adopted for minced meat would resolve most of the problems being experienced by these operators.

(7)

At the same time, it must be ensured that outlets for sale to the final consumer have available at all times information on the slaughterhouses at which the animals were slaughtered and the plants at which the carcases were cut up for the non-pre-packaged cut meats displayed for sale each day so that consumers who so request can be given that information orally. This will maintain a level of traceability at least equivalent to that laid down for minced meat.

(8)

In addition, while maintaining the requirements as regards traceability and the recording of information on meat displayed for sale at outlets for sale to the final consumer, it should be permitted for such meat to be cut up on different days.

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 1825/2000 should therefore be amended.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,

1.

The following Article 1(a) is inserted after Article 1:

‘Article 1a

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

2.

Article 4 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 4

Size and composition of a group

1.   The size of the group referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 shall be defined:

The size of the group may not, in any case, exceed the production of one day.

2.   When constituting the batches referred to in paragraph 1, operators shall ensure that:

3.   By way of derogation from the requirement regarding the same slaughterhouse and the same cutting plant laid down in paragraph 2(b), during the production of cut meat, operators shall be authorised to constitute batches from meat of animals slaughtered at a maximum of three different slaughterhouses and from carcases cut up at a maximum of three different cutting plants.

4.   By way of derogation from paragraph 2(b), during the production of trimmings, operators shall, when constituting batches, be required to comply only with the requirement regarding the same country of slaughter.’

3.

Article 5(1) is deleted.

4.

The following Articles are inserted after Article 5:

‘Article 5a

Trimmings

1.   By way of derogation from Article 13(2)(b) and (c) and (5)(a)(i) and (ii) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, operators and organisations shall indicate on labels for trimmings:

2.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1(a) and (c), where all the animals in the group were born, raised and slaughtered in the same country, operators shall be authorised to use the indication “Country of origin:” followed by the name of the Member State or third country in which the animals were born, raised and slaughtered.

Article 5b

Pre-packaged cut meat

By way of derogation from Article 13(2)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, operators and organisations availing themselves of the possibility offered by Article 4(3) of this Regulation shall indicate the following on labels for pre-packaged cut meats in addition to that provided for in Article 13(5)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000:

Article 5c

Non-pre-packaged cut meat

1.   Operators and organisations shall ensure that, where the derogation provided for in Article 4(3) is applied, the constitution of batches of all non-pre-packaged cut meats displayed at the same time at retail outlets for sale to the final consumer is in accordance with that Article 4(3).

2.   By way of derogation from Article 13(2)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, at points of sale to the final consumer operators and organisations shall label all non-pre-packaged cut meats displayed for sale with the name of the country in which the animals from which the meat came were born, raised and slaughtered, followed by the name of the country in which the carcases were cut up.

Meat of animals born and/or raised and/or slaughtered in different countries shall be clearly separated when displayed for sale. Information shall be displayed in the sale outlet by such meats so as to allow the final consumer to distinguish easily between meat from different origins.

Operators who display non-pre-packaged cut meats together for sale each day shall record, with the date, the approval numbers of the slaughterhouses in which the animals were slaughtered and the cutting plants in which the carcases were cut up. They shall provide that information to consumers who so request.

3.   By way of derogation from the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) and providing that the requirements laid down in paragraph 2 of this Article are met, in the case of non-pre-packaged cut beef and/or veal displayed for sale to the final consumer, the size of the group may exceed one day’s production.’