Brussels, 04/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - In order to reassure consumers after the scandal over frozen meat and meat-based products fraudulently containing horsemeat when labelled as beef, the European Commission is expected to step up the pace of work on labelling to show the origin of meat-based products. It is to publish as soon as possible - about the month of September some say - a report on the feasibility of extending the labelling of origin to meat-based processed products. Furthermore, EU experts are still discussing arrangements for applying the extension (by end 2014) of the labelling of origin for beef to other fresh meat (pork, mutton, goat and poultry) products. This application regulation is due to be adopted in the coming months.
By proceeding in this way, the Commission would be slightly ahead of the timetable foreseen by Regulation 1169/2011 concerning consumer information on foodstuffs. Currently, the indication of origin is compulsory for honey, fruit and vegetables, fish, beef and olive oil.
A threshold for meat-based processed products?
After the horsemeat scandal, some member states called for there to be compulsory labelling to show the origin of meat used in processed products, such as ready-made meals. Regulation 1169/2011 calls on the Commission to publish, by end 2013, an impact study on the labelling of origin for meat-based processed food. Certain Commission sources have spoken of the possibility of having a threshold (for example, 5% or 10% meat in the product) beyond which it is necessary to mention the origin of the meat on the packaging label.
Fresh pork and poultry meat.
Regulation 1169/2011 stipulates that, by 13 December 2013 at the latest, there should be clearer labelling of fresh meat showing the place of origin for pork, poultry, sheep meat and goat meat. This new provision should, according to the regulation, enter into application by 13 December 2014 at the latest. This would mean extending to those meats the labelling rules that already exist for beef and veal. According to an information memo drafted by the directorate general for agriculture, three options are currently envisaged for the labelling of fresh meat such as pork, mutton, goat meat and poultry. The first possibility is a label of “EU origin” for animals raised (during a period still to be determined) and slaughtered in Europe. The second option is for fresh meat to be labelled in order to show the country of origin where the animal was raised (during a period still to be determined). In this case, if the period of livestock farming is insufficient, then the first option (EU or non-EU origin) would apply. The third possibility is to set in place the same system as for fresh beef meat. In this case, the country of origin is shown if the animal is born, reared and slaughtered in the country. If this is not the case, then the places of birth, rearing and slaughter are given separately.
Furthermore, the Commission is invited in the regulation to publish another impact study assessment by 13 December 2014 relating to the labelling of origin for other kinds of meat, milk, non-processed foodstuffs, products composed of a single ingredient and ingredients that make up over 50% of a food product. (LC/transl.jl)