Brussels, 04/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following the Regulation of 17 July 2000, the compulsory beef labelling system entered its second phase in January 2002. In addition to the place of fattening, slaughtering and cutting, the beef label will now have to include precise information about where the animal was born and reared.
The label has to contain the following indications: an indication of the Member State or third country of birth; an indication of all Member States or third countries where fattening took place; a reference number ensuring the link between the meat and the animal or animals slaughtered (name of the Member State or third country) (approval number of the slaughterhouse); cutting in: (name of the Member State or third country) (approval number of the cutting plant); where the beef is derived from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the same Member State, the indication may be given as: "Origin: (name of Member State)" in the same third country, the indication may be given as "Origin: (name of third country)"
For minced beef the label must contain: traceability code, Member State of slaughter, Member State of preparation, Member State or Member States of origin, if they are different from the Member State of preparation. Operators can provide supplementary information if they wish to.