Brussels, 06/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - After long months of discussion, EU member states have given the go-ahead to a European provision for labelling to show the origin of fresh pork, sheep and goat meat and poultry meat. Hitherto only mandatory for beef and veal, this traceability obligation will take effect on 1 April 2015, once it has been formally adopted by the Commission and published in the Official Journal. This delay is designed to give the sector time to get organised.
On Thursday 5 December, member state experts adopted the new labelling rules for fresh, chilled and frozen pork, sheep, goat and poultry meat. Three member states abstained (the Czech Republic, Belgium and Romania) during the vote and two were against (Sweden and Poland). Discussions were tough. Member states had decided in 2011 that labelling rules should be set in place and had until 13 December to reach formal agreement.
Operators will be able to use the label “Origin: member state (or third country)”, only when the animal in question is born, reared and slaughtered in country. This provision, considered as a “gold medal” label, is optional. The mention of origin (name of country) aims to give the consumer the guarantee that the animal has remained in that same country throughout its life.
If the animal is born, then raised or slaughtered in different countries, specific rules (compulsory) are set in place for pigs, poultry and sheep, given that the production cycles are not the same. If the animal is born, reared or slaughtered in different countries, then the place where the animal was reared and slaughtered will be indicated on the label. For example: “Reared and slaughtered in Germany” or “Reared in France and slaughtered in Italy”.
If the meat is imported from a third country, it will simply be mentioned: “Reared in a non-EU country” or, on a voluntary basis, the country can be named (e.g. Argentina).
For sheep and goats, an animal will be considered as having been reared in a country if it has spent the six months preceding its slaughter in that country.
For pigs, the four months preceding slaughter will be taken into account and, for animals of over 80 kg, it is the place where they were fattened from a live weight of 30 kg until slaughter.
Poultry must have spent more than one month preceding their slaughter in the country.
Derogation for minced meat.
For minced meat and fillings, derogations are introduced: it will be possible to simply state the EU or non-EU origin of the meat: “Reared and slaughtered in: EU”, for example, or, as this may be the case for this kind of product: “Reared and slaughtered in: EU and non-EU countries”.
Also by way of exemption, it will be possible for cut meat from third countries to simply bear a label showing the place of rearing as “non EU” origin. Nonetheless, in this case, the name of the third country of slaughter must be mentioned.
Ready-made dishes. Furthermore, the European Commission must soon present to member states three options for the labelling of the origin of meat used in ready-made dishes. In the fore on this dossier since the discovery of horsemeat in lasagne, France wants to impose traceability at European level but is coming up against the reticence of many partners. (LC/transl.jl)