Beef labelling
Consultation on The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 (England)
1 July 2008: Consultation on The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 (England)
European law introduces new rules on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less with effect from 1 July 2008 (Council Regulation ( EC) No. 1234/2007 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No.361/2008). The Government is required to introduce measures to enforce this EU legislation, which is directly applicable. The proposed Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 will incorporate enforcement powers for the existing EU Beef Labelling legislation as well as including enforcement powers for the new EU rules on the marketing of the meat from bovine animals aged 12 months or less. Defra is requesting comments on our plans for enforcement in England.
Important - Transfer of beef labelling work to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in Carlisle
Please note that the administration of the beef labelling system for England transferred from Defra to the Rural Payments Agency on 30 April 2008. The RPA takes over responsibility for the day-to-day running of the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme and compulsory system for England, and becomes the overall UK lead on policy management of the system in place of Defra. This means that new scheme applications and requests for additional claims, and related enquiries, along with general advice on the system, is handled by the RPA. Defra’s Beef Labelling Section in London has been disbanded. A letter was issued to interested parties (below).
If you require advice on beef labelling please contact the RPA. The contact details are as follows:
Meat Technical Schemes (MTS)
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle CA3 8DX
Telephone: 01228 640369
Fax: 01228 640524
e-mail: MTS.carlisle@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
- Letter: Transfer of beef labelling scheme work to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in Carlisle
(25 KB)
In March 2007 the European Commission published a number of changes to the compulsory labelling requirements which are described in the letter below, dated 12 April 2007 (Summary amended on 21 May 2007). The Beef Labelling Guide - BL 1 (also available below) is therefore not now fully up-to-date and an amendment to it will be published in due course.
Compulsory labelling of fresh, chilled and frozen beef for export
Beef carcases and cuts for export to the EU must be labelled with the following compulsory indications: a traceability reference number or code, the country (Member State) of birth and of rearing, the country of slaughter and of cutting, with the approval numbers of the slaughterhouse and cutting plant(s). See below for further details.
Labelling of veal
The European Commission has been trying for some years to reach agreement on a single harmonised EU definition of veal. As a way forward the Commission decided in 2005 to carry out a public consultation to see if a consensus could be reached on a definition. Following its consultation the Commission has agreed a definition divided into two sub-categories dependent on the age of the animal. This introduces compulsory labelling requirements with effect from 1 July 2008 for meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less, with the requirements applying throughout the supply chain.
The compulsory labelling requirements are divided into two sub-categories:
(a) meat from animals aged 8 months or less, and
(b) meat from animals aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months.
Operators in the UK will be required to label the meat - whether home produced or imported - with two compulsory indications, as follows:
(i) a category identification letter ”V” or “Z” which denotes whether the animal was aged 8 months or less, or aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months;
(ii) the sales description i.e. “veal” (for animals aged 8 months or less) or “beef” (for animals aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months).
Views from interested organisations have been sought. See the consultation above.
Compulsory origin labelling from 1 January 2002
EC rules have been designed to provide European consumers with more reliable
information about the beef they buy. Beef offered for sale must be fully
traceable and compulsory country of origin indications must be shown.
The rules apply to all fresh and frozen beef and veal offered for sale
at all stages in the supply chain from slaughterhouse to final sale to
end consumer.
1. For beef from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the UK
The minimum compulsory indications are:
- A reference number or code
- "Origin: UK" (you may, in addition, use the term "British" without approval)
- "Slaughtered in: UK", approval number of slaughterhouse
- "Cut in: UK", approval number(s) of cutting plant(s)
2. For imported beef or beef from animals born, or raised or slaughtered outside the UK
The compulsory indications are:
- A reference number or code
- Country of birth (1):name of Member Stateor non-ECcountry(2)
- Country of rearing (1): name of Member State(s) or non-EC country(ies)(2)
- "Slaughtered in: {name of Member State or non-EC country}" (2), approval number of slaughterhouse
- "Cut in: {name of Member State or non-EC country}" (2), approval number(s) of cutting plant(s)
(1)If birth, rearing and slaughter take place in the same country, an origin indication may be given instead of separately giving both the country of birth and of rearing. However, the reference number or code, slaughter and cutting information must also be shown on your labels. Any beef labelled as ''Origin: UK'' must have come from an animal that was born in the UK, raised in the UK and slaughtered in the UK.
(2)If you sell beef imported from outside the EC, you should provide the name of the non-EC country in the indications listed above. However, if the information is not all available, as a minimum you must label with: "Origin: Non-EC , Slaughtered in: [name of the non-EC country of slaughter]".
There are slightly different rules for minced beef. The compulsory indications for mince are:
- A reference number or code
- Member State or non-EC country of slaughter
- Member State or non-EC country of mincing
- Member State or non-EC country of birth, if different from country of mincing
The requirements for compulsory beef labelling are explained in the Beef Labelling Guide for England, together with information on the term "labelling" and how beef should be labelled.
Other beef labelling - the Beef Labelling Scheme
Claims about the origin, production methods or characteristics of beef which are not compulsory can be made on a voluntary basis if approved under the Beef Labelling Scheme which operates alongside the compulsory rules. Prior approval of an application to the Scheme and verification by a recognised independent third party is required for all voluntary claims.
Advice and further information
For practical advice on labelling and setting up traceability systems and registers the following sources may be helpful: your trade organisation e.g. for independent butchers, the National Federation of Meat & Food Traders (Tel: 01892 541412); recognised independent third party verifiers (see list below); professional advisors. Please note that some of these bodies may charge for the assistance they give.
For information on the rules, you can also contact:
Meat Technical Schemes (MTS)
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle CA3 8DX
Telephone: 01228 640369
Fax: 01228 640524
e-mail: MTS.carlisle@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
The following beef labelling system material is available.
See also
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Page last modified: 22 July 2008