PURPOSE: to increase transparency in the marketing of the meat of animals aged twelve months or less with a view to improving the functioning of the single market and provide better information for consumers.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 700/2007 of 11 June 2007 on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less.

CONTENT: the Council adopted by qualified majority (Ireland, Greece, Portugal and UK voted against and Austria abstained), a regulation introducing provisions on traceability and labelling of meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less all over the food chain. Greece and Portugal made statements.

The systems of production of bovine animals aged 12 months or less and their characteristics at the time of slaughter often differ from one Member State to another. Experience shows that this practice could disturb trade and encourage unfair competition. Consequently, it has a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the internal market.

To improve the functioning of the internal market, the organization of production and consumer information, This Regulation lays down the conditions for the marketing in the Community of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less, in particular the sales descriptions to be used. It shall apply to the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less slaughtered after 1 July 2008, whether produced in the Community or imported from third countries.

According to the Regulation, bovine animals which are slaughtered:

- aged 8 months or less, will be identified by the letter ‘V’ at the abattoir and their meat will be marked ‘veal’ or its equivalent in the other Community languages in accordance with the annex, point A of the Regulation;

- aged more than 8 months but not more than 12 months will be identified by the letter ‘Z’ at the abattoir and their meat will be marked rosé veal (IRL) or beef (UK) or their equivalents in the other Community languages, in accordance with the annex, point B of the Regulation.

In addition to these sales descriptions, the animal’s age (8 months or more, or between 8 and 12 months) will be marked on the label to inform consumers.

From now on, operators will record the age of all bovine animals in order to ensure the correct use of the sales designations, but the current registration system for bovine meat could be used for this purpose.

Provisions are also made to ensure that meat imported from third countries satisfy the Regulation’s requirements. By 1 July 2008, the Member States should designate the authorities competent to carry out checks relating to the conditions laid down in this Regulation and inform the Commission thereof.

Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and ensure that they are implemented. Those penalties should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Meat originating from bovines aged 12 months or more that are slaughtered before 1 July 2008 can continue to be commercialized even if they do not satisfy the requirements of the Regulation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 29/06/2007. The Regulation applies from 01/07/2008.

Regulation 2007/700
OJ L 161 22.06.2007, p. 0001

SP(2007)1901/2

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Bernadette BOURZAI (PES, FR) and made some amendments to the proposal. (Please refer to the summary dated 24/01/2007.)

T6-0068/2007

Debate in Parliament

A6-0006/2007

A6-0006/2007

The committee adopted the report by Bernadette BOURZAI (PES, FR) broadly approving the proposed regulation under the consultation procedure, subject to a few amendments:

- MEPs specified that the use of the term "meat" in the regulation meant meat intended for human consumption. The provisions of the regulation should also apply to prepared, processed or cooked products which contain meat;

- the sales description listed in Annex II should appear in all commercial documents;

- the regulation should only apply "where the meat of bovine animals aged more than eight months is being marketed as other than "beef" (or the equivalent term for adult beef in other Community languages)";

- the choice of the letters X and Y as category identification letters could lead to confusion with the sex of the animals, and the letters V and Z should therefore be used instead;

- lastly, the committee introduced a new article providing for Member States to impose "effective, proportionate and dissuasive" penalties in the event of failure to comply with the rules laid down.

PE382.264

PE382.208

PURPOSE : to increase transparency in the marketing of the meat of animals aged twelve months or less with a view to improving the functioning of the single market and provide better information for consumers.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT : the systems of production of bovine animals aged twelve months or less and their characteristics at the time of slaughter often differ from one Member State to another. Essentially, there are two major types of production system. In the first, the animals are fed mainly on milk and milk products and are slaughtered before the age of eight months, generally at around six or seven months. In the second, the animals are fed almost exclusively on cereals supplemented with fodder, and are slaughtered at an age of ten months and above.

The first type of production system exists in almost all the Member States, but has developed in five of them in particular (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany). The second is known and has developed in only a small number of Member States, mainly the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain. Meat produced under these two systems may be marketed under various names, but generally it is marketed under one single sales description, at least on the main consumer markets in the Community. Consequently, it has a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the single market. This practice could also cause confusion for consumers and is likely to mislead them.

In order to improve the functioning of the single market, the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less should be organised in such a way as to make it as transparent as possible. This will also enable such production to be better organised.

The Commission, therefore, proposes the establishment of sales descriptions to be used in each Member State for the marketing of the meat of animals in each of the two sub-categories of animal defined, coupled with a requirement to indicate the age of the animals on slaughter.

Traders wishing to supplement the sales descriptions provided for in this Regulation by other

voluntary information should be able to do.

In certain cases, the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less enjoys protection under Council Regulation 510/2006/EC on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. It is marketed under the protected indication or designation and, as a result, can be clearly identified by traders and consumers. Also, it is usually marketed at a local level. Accordingly, the provisions of this Regulation must not affect the designations protected under Regulation 510/2006/EC.

The Member States should designate the authorities competent to carry out checks relating to the conditions laid down in this Regulation and provision should be made for the Commission to ensure, where necessary by means of on-the-spot checks, that those conditions are met. Lastly, for the sake of consistency and in order to avoid any distortion of competition, meat imported from third countries should also be subject to the provisions of this Regulation.

COM(2006)0487
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE : to increase transparency in the marketing of the meat of animals aged twelve months or less with a view to improving the functioning of the single market and provide better information for consumers.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT : the systems of production of bovine animals aged twelve months or less and their characteristics at the time of slaughter often differ from one Member State to another. Essentially, there are two major types of production system. In the first, the animals are fed mainly on milk and milk products and are slaughtered before the age of eight months, generally at around six or seven months. In the second, the animals are fed almost exclusively on cereals supplemented with fodder, and are slaughtered at an age of ten months and above.

The first type of production system exists in almost all the Member States, but has developed in five of them in particular (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany). The second is known and has developed in only a small number of Member States, mainly the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain. Meat produced under these two systems may be marketed under various names, but generally it is marketed under one single sales description, at least on the main consumer markets in the Community. Consequently, it has a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the single market. This practice could also cause confusion for consumers and is likely to mislead them.

In order to improve the functioning of the single market, the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less should be organised in such a way as to make it as transparent as possible. This will also enable such production to be better organised.

The Commission, therefore, proposes the establishment of sales descriptions to be used in each Member State for the marketing of the meat of animals in each of the two sub-categories of animal defined, coupled with a requirement to indicate the age of the animals on slaughter.

Traders wishing to supplement the sales descriptions provided for in this Regulation by other

voluntary information should be able to do.

In certain cases, the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less enjoys protection under Council Regulation 510/2006/EC on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. It is marketed under the protected indication or designation and, as a result, can be clearly identified by traders and consumers. Also, it is usually marketed at a local level. Accordingly, the provisions of this Regulation must not affect the designations protected under Regulation 510/2006/EC.

The Member States should designate the authorities competent to carry out checks relating to the conditions laid down in this Regulation and provision should be made for the Commission to ensure, where necessary by means of on-the-spot checks, that those conditions are met. Lastly, for the sake of consistency and in order to avoid any distortion of competition, meat imported from third countries should also be subject to the provisions of this Regulation.

COM(2006)0487
EUR-Lex