1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONREGULATION(EEC)No461/93
of26February1993
laying down detailed rules for the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine
animals
(OJ L 49, 27.2.1993, p. 70)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1CommissionRegulation(EC) No 823/98 of 20 April 1998 L 117 2 21.4.1998
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COMMISSIONREGULATION(EEC)No461/93
of26February1993
layingdowndetailedrulesfortheCommunityscalefortheclassifi-
cationofcarcasesofovineanimals
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European EconomicCommunity,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 of 25
September 1989, onthe commonorgan izationof the market inthe
sheepmeat and the goatmeat(
1) as last amended by Regulation (EEC)
No 363/93(2), and in particular Article 4 (5) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 of 23 July
1992 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcasesof ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality offresh or chilled sheep carcases and extending Regulation (EEC)
No 338/91(
3), and in particular Articles 2, 4 (3), 5, 6 and 7 (2) thereof,
Whereas Regulation(EEC) No 2137/92 provided for a Commun ity-
wide carcase classification standard with the object of improvingmarket transparency in the sheepmeat sector; whereas detailed rulesare required for the determination of market prices which are estab-lished onthe basis of this classificationstan dard; whereas provision
should be made for the establishment of market prices at the appro-
priate point in the commercialization process; whereas this pointshould be at entry to the slaughterhouse; whereas, in order to ensurethe unfirom (SIC! uniform) classification of the carcases of ovineanimals in the Community, it is necessary to make the definitions ofconformation classes, fat classes and colour more precise;
Whereas a system of price reporting should be established on the basis
of the classificationmade at slaughterhouses immediately after slaugh-
tering; whereas this requires proper identification of carcases;
Whereas classificationshould be carried out by sufficien tly qualified
staff; whereas the reliability of classificationmust be verified by effec-tive checks to ensure it homogenous application;
Whereas Regulation(EEC) No 2137/92 provided that on -the-spot
inspection is to be carried out by a Community inspection group, in
order to ensure uniform application of the Community scale for classi-
ficationinthe Commun ity;
Whereas it is necessary to lay down detailed rules for the composition
of the group and implementation of the on-the-spot inspections;
Whereas the measures provided for inthis Regulationare inaccor-
dance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sheep andGoats,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. The market price to be established onthe basis of the Commun ity
scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals referred to in
Article 7 (1) of Regulation(EEC) No 2137/92 shall be the price at
entry to the slaughterhouse, net of value-added tax paid to the supplierfor lamb of Community origin. This price shall be expressed per 100 kgcarcase weight presented according to the reference presentationprovided for inArticle 2 of the Regulationweighed an d classified onthe hook at the slaughterhouse.1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 289, 7. 10. 1989, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 42, 19. 2. 1993, p. 1.
(3) OJ No L 214, 30. 7. 1992, p. 1.
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2. The weight to be taken into account shall be the hot weight of the
carcase corrected to take account of weight loss on chilling. MemberStates shall inform the Commission of the corrective factors used.
3. In the case where the presentation of carcases after weighing and
classifying on the hook differs from the reference presentation,Member States shall adjust the weight of the carcase by the applicationof corrective factors provided for inArticle 2 of Regulation(EEC)No 2137/92. Member States shall notify the Commission of the correc-
tive factors used. However, for the purposes of the categories referred
to in Annex III to the Regulation, Member States may report prices per100 kg for the customary presentation of these carcases. In thisinstance, Member States shall inform the Commission of the differ-ences between this presentation and the reference presentation.
Article 2
1. Member States whose sheepmeat production exceeds 200 tonnes
per year shall communicate to the Commission prior to the 15 March1993 a confidential list of the slaughterhouses and/or other establish-
ments participating for the establishment of prices according to the
Community scale (hereinafter referred to as ‘participating establish-ments’) together with an indication of the approximate annualthroughput of these participating establishments.
2. Member States referred to inparagraph 1 shall commun icate to
the Commissioneach Thursday at the latest an d for the first time on8
April 1993 at the latest, the average price in national currency for each
quality of lamb withinthe Commun ity scales for all participationestab-lishments recorded during the week preceding the week in which theinformation is given, together with an indication of the size of eachquality. However, where a quality makes up less than1 % of the total,prices need not to be reported. Member States shall also communicate
to the Commissionthe average price ona weight basis for all classified
lamb ineach scale used for price reportin g purposes.
However, Member States are authorized to subdivide price reported for
each of the classes of conformation and degrees of fat cover providedfor in the Annex on the basis of weight. The term ‘quality’ means thecombination of class of conformation and of fat cover.
Article 3
The additional provisions referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EEC)
No 2137/92 shall be as listed in the Annex hereto for the classes ofconformation and of fat cover. The meat colour, referred to in Annex
III to Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92, shall be determined on the flank
at the ‘rectus abdominis’ by reference to a standardized colour chart.
Article 4
1. Classificationshall be made at the latest on e hour after slaugh-
tering.
2. The identification referred to in Article 4 (2) of Regulation (EEC)
No 2137/92 of carcases or half-carcases classified according to theCommunity scale for the classification of the carcases of ovine animalsin participating establishments shall be carried out by means of a markindicating the category and the class of conformation and fat cover.
This marking shall be carried out by stamping, using an indelible and
non-toxic ink following a method approved by the competent national
authorities.
Categories shall be designated as follows:— L: carcases of sheep under twelve months old (Lamb):
— S: carcases of other sheep.1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 3
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3. Member States may authorize replacement of the marking by the
use of an unalterable and firmly attachable label.
Article 5
1. Member States shall ensure that classification is carried out by
sufficiently qualified technicians. Member States shall determine suchpersons by means of a procedure of agreement or by designating a
body responsible for this purpose.
2. Classification in the participating establishments covered by
Article 2 shall be checked on the spot without prior warning by abody designated by the Member State and independent of the partici-pating establishment. Checks must be carried out at least once every
three months in all participating establishments which operate classifi-
cationan d must relate to at least 50 carcases slected (SIC! selected) atrandom.
However, where the body responsible for checks is the same as that
responsible for classification or where it does not fall under the
authority of a public body, the checks provided for inthe first —subparagraph (SIC! first subparagraph) must be carried out under thephysical supervision of a public body under the same conditions andat least once a year. The public body shall be informed regularly of
the findings of the body responsible for checks.
Article 6
The Community inspection Group provided for in Article 5 of Regula-
tion(EEC) No 2137/92 (herein after referred to as ‘the Group’) shall be
responsible for carrying out on-the-spot inspections covering:
(a) the application of the arrangements relating to the Community clas-
sificationscale for ovin e carcases;
(b) the establishment of market prices according to the classification
scale.
Article 7
The Group shall be chaired by one of the Commission experts.
Member States shall appoint experts on the basis of their independenceand ability in matters of classification of carcases and establishment ofmarket prices.
Experts shall not under any circumstances use for personal purposes or
divulge information obtained in connection with the work of the Group.
Article 8
1. On-the-spot inspections shall be carried out by a delegation of the
group limited to a maximum of sevenmembers. For this purpose it
shall be composed in accordance with the following rules:
— at least two Commissionexperts, on e of whom shall act as
chairmanof the delegation ,
— one expert of the Member State concerned,— at most four experts from other Member States.
2. The compositionof the delegationfor the first in spectionshall be
decided by the Commission.
Article 9
1. On-the-spot inspections shall be carried out at regular intervals
the frequency of which may vary in particular according to the relativevolume of sheepmeat productioninthe Member State visited or toproblems linked to the application of the grid. Where necessary they1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 4
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may be followed by supplementary visits. On such visits the size of the
delegationmay be reduced.
The programme of inspection visits shall be drawn up by the Commis-
sion after consulting the Member States. Representatives of theMember State visited may attend the inspections.
2. Each Member State shall organize the visits which are to be
carried out on its territory according to the requirements defined bythe Commission. To that end, the Member State shall forward, 30days before the visit, the detailed programme of the proposed inspec-
tionvistis (SIC! visits) to the Commission , which may request
amendments to the programme.
3. The Commission shall inform Member States as far in advance of
each visit as possible of the programme and the course thereof.
4. Oncompletionof each visits, (SIC! visit,) the members of the
delegation and the representatives of the Member State visited shallmeet to consider the results. The members of the delegation shall then
draw conclusions from the visit concerning the points referred to in
Article 6.
5. The delegation chairman shall draw up a report containing details
of the visit and the conclusions referred to in paragraph 4. The reportshall be sent to the Member State visited without delay, and to theother Member States thereafter.
Article 10
Travel and subsistence expenses of members of the Group shall be
borne by the Commission in accordance with the rules applicable to
the reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses of persons notconnected with the Commission who are called upon by it to act asexperts.
Article 11
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its
publicationinthe Official Journal of the European Communities .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
inall Member States.1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 5
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ANNEX
1.Conformation
Development of carcase profiles, and, in particular the essential parts (hindquarter, back, shoulder).
Conformation class Additional provisions
S
SuperiorHindquarter: double muscled. Profiles extremely convex
Back: extremely convex, extremely wide, extremely thickShoulder: extremely convex and extremely thick
E
ExcellentHindquarter: very thick. Profiles very convex
Back: very convex, very wide and very thick to the shoulderShoulder: very convex and very thick
U
Very goodHindquarter: thick. Profiles convex
Back: wide and thick to the shoulderShoulder: thick and convex
R
GoodHindquarter: profiles mainly straight
Back: thick but less wide to the shoulderShoulder: good development, but less thick
O
FairHindquarter: profiles tending to slightly concave
Back: lacking width and thicknessShoulder: tending to narrow. Lacking thickness
P
PoorHindquarter: profiles concave to very concave
Back: narrow and concave with bones apparentShoulder: narrow, flat and bones apparent
2.Degree offatcover
Amount of fat on the external and of the intenal parts of the carcase.
Class of fat cover Additional Provisions (1)
1.
LowExternal Traces of or no fat visible
Internal Abdominal Traces of or no fat visible on kidneys
Thoracic Traces of or no fat visible between ribs
2.
SlightExternal A slight layer of fat covers part of the carcase but may be
less evident on the limbs
Internal Abdominal Traces of fat or slight layer of fat
envelops part of the kidneys
Thoracic Muscle clearly visible betweenribs
3.
AverageExternal A light layer of fat covering most or all of the carcase.
Slightly thickened fat zones of the base of the tail
Internal Abdominal Light layer of fat envelops part or all
of the kidneys
Thoracic Muscle still visible betweenribs
4.
HighExternal A thick layer of fat covering most of all of the carcase
but may be thinner on limbs and thickening on shoulders
Internal Abdominal Kidney is enveloped in fat1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 6
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Class of fat cover Additional Provisions (1)
Thoracic Muscle betweenribs may be in filtrated
with fat. Fat deposits may be visible
onthe ribs
5.
Very highExternal Very thick fat cover
Patches of fat sometimes visible
Internal Abdominal Kidneys enveloped in thick layer of fat
Thoracic Muscle betweenribs in filtrated with
fat. Fat deposits visible onribs.
(1) The additional provisions for the abdominal cavity do not apply for the purposes of Annex III to Regulation
(EEC) No 2137/92.1993R0461 — EN — 05.01.1998 — 001.001 — 7