1984R3220 — EN — 01.07.1994 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCILREGULATION(EEC)No3220/84
of13November1984
determining theCommunityscaleforgradingpigcarcases
(OJ L 301, 20.11.1984, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Regulation (EEC) No 3530/86 of 17 November 1986 L 326 8 21.11.1986
►M2Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/90 of 4 December 1990 L 353 23 17.12.1990
►M3Council Regulation (EC) No 3513/93 of 14 December 1993 L 320 5 22.12.1993
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COUNCILREGULATION(EEC)No3220/84
of13November1984
determining theCommunityscaleforgradingpigcarcases
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October
1975 onthe commonorgan izationof the market inpigmeat(1), as last
amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2966/80(2), and in particular Arti-
cles 2 and 4 (5) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas, before 1 August of each year, a basic price must be fixed for
slaughtered pigs of a standard quality defined by reference to aCommunity scale for grading pig carcases;
Whereas it is therefore necessary to lay down general rules ensuring
uniform grading of pig carcases, particularly in order to guaranteeproducers fair payment based on the weight and composition of the
pigs they have delivered to slaughterhouses; whereas this grading is
also intended to make the market more transparent as regards trade inpig carcases;
Whereas the value of a pig carcase is determined in particular by its
lean-meat content in relation to its weight; whereas assessment of the
lean-meat content on the basis of an objective consideration of theweight of the carcase and the thickness of the backfat together with asubjective assessment of muscle development in the principal parts ofthe carcase canprovide a correct assessmen t of this value; whereas,
however, the subjective element represented by the assessment of
muscle development can also lead to wide variations in assessments;whereas, therefore, it is necessary to introduce throughout the Commu-nity the principle of direct establishment of the lean-meat percentage,on the basis of objective measurement of one or more anatomical partsof the pig carcase, without however ruling out possible use of further
criteria for the determination of its commercial value;
Whereas the presentation, weight and lean-meat content of the carcase
need to be accurately defined to ensure that the assessment results are
comparable;
Whereas, giventhe differen ces inpig productioninthe Commun ity,
pig carcases should be divided according to their lean-meat content
into five commercial grades, each covering a range of 5 % of lean
meat; whereas Member States should nonetheless be given the optionof adding an additional grade for carcases with a high percentage ofleanmeat;
Whereas a monitoring system should be established to ensure that the
methods for assessing the percentage of lean meat are correctlyapplied; whereas, in addition, market transparency should be improvedby requiring carcases to be marked according to their lean-meatcontent;
Whereas, inorder to establish quotation s for pig carcases ona common
basis and to make them comparable to the basic price valid for thestandard quality, the Community scale should be used in particular for
determining the average price for pig carcases referred to in Article 4
of Regulation(EEC) No 2759/75;
Whereas, in view of the amendments referred to above, all the rules
which apply should be consolidated and Council Regulation (EEC)1984R3220 — EN — 01.07.1994 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 307, 18. 11. 1980, p. 5.
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No 2760/75 of 29 October 1975 determining the Community scale for
grading pig carcases(1) should accordingly be repealed;
Whereas, however, inview of the variety of slaughterhouse structures
and practices, it is not possible to provide for simultaneous implemen-
tation throughout the Community of the new scale for grading pigcarcases; whereas it is therefore necessary to allow some MemberStates to continue, during a transitional period, to apply the method ofgrading pig carcases laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2760/75,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. This Regulation lays down the Community scale for grading
carcases of pigs other thanthose which have beenused for breedin g.
2. The scale referred to inparagraph 1 above shall be used by all
slaughterhouses for grading all carcases in order to enable producersto receive fair payment based on the weight and composition of the
pigs they have delivered to the slaughterhouse.
However, Member States may decide not to make application of this
scale obligatory:
— in slaughtering establishments for which they set a maximum
number of slaughters; this number may not exceed 200 pigs perweek ona yearly average basis,
— in slaughtering establishments which slaughter only pigs born and
fattened in their own breeding establishments and which cut up all
the carcases obtained.
In that event, the Member States shall notify the Commission of their
decision, specifying the maximum permitted number of slaughters ineach of the slaughtering establishments which are exempt from applica-
tionof the Commun ity scale.
Article 2
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘pig carcase’ shall mean the
body of a slaughtered pig, bled and eviscerated, whole or divided downthe mid-line, without tongue, bristles, hooves, genital organs, flare fat,
kidneys and diaphragm.
With regard to pigs slaughtered intheir territory, the Member States
may be authorized to provide for a different presentation of pigcarcases if one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
— if normal commercial practice in their territory differs from the
standard presentation defined in the first subparagraph,
— if technical requirements warrant it,— if pig carcases are dehided in a uniform manner.
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the weight shall apply to the
cold carcase presented as described in the first subparagraph of para-graph 1.
The carcase shall be weighed as soonas possible after slaughter an d
not more than 45 minutes after the pig has been stuck. The weight of
the cold carcase shall be calculated by applying a conversion coeffi-cient to the result obtained.
If, in a given slaughterhouse, the 45-minute period cannot generally be
observed, the conversion coefficient referred to in the second subpara-graph shall be adjusted accordingly.1984R3220 — EN — 01.07.1994 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 10.▼M3
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3. For the purposes of this Regulation, the lean-meat content of a
pig carcase shall be the relationship between:
— the total weight of the red striated muscles provided that they are
separable by knife, and
— the weight of the carcase.
The total weight of the red striated muscles is obtained either by total
dissectionof the carcase or by partial dissectionof the carcase or by
combination of total or partial dissection based on proven statisticalmethods adopted inaccordan ce with the procedure laid downinArticle24 of Regulation(EEC) No 2759/75.
The lean-meat content shall be assessed by means of authorized
grading methods. Only statistically proven assessment methods basedon the physical measurement of one or more anatomical parts of thepig carcase may be authorized. Authorizationof gradin g methods shallbe subject to compliance with a maximum tolerance for statistical error
inassessmen t.
Article 3
1. Pig carcases shall be graded at the time of weighing according to
their estimated lean-meat content.
Inrespect of pigs slaughtered intheir territory, Member States may be
authorized to allow classification before weighing, in accordance withthe procedure laid downinArticle 24 of Regulation(EEC) No 2795/75.
The commercial value of the carcases shall not, however, be deter-
mined solely by their estimated lean-meat content.
2. The following grading scale shall apply:
Leanmeat as percen tage of carcase weight Grade
55 or more E
50 or more but less than55 U
45 or more but less than50 R
40 or more but less than45 O
less than40 P
3. Having regard to the characteristics of their pigmeat production,
Member States may introduce, for pigs slaughtered in their territory, aseparate grade of 60 % or more of leanmeat design ated by the letter S.Where Member States avail themselves of this option, they shall notifythe Commissionthereof.
4. The provisions of this Article do not exclude, as regards pigs
slaughtered inthe territory of a Member State, the use of assessmen tcriteria in addition to weight and estimated lean-meat content.
Article 4
1. Immediately after grading, pig carcases shall be marked in accor-
dance with the grade designation provided for in Article 3 or inaccordance with their estimated lean-meat content, provided that thelatter marking enables the carcases to be assigned to the gradesprovided for inArticle 3.
Without prejudice to the first subparagraph, particulars of carcase
weight or any other particulars considered appropriate may be markedonthe carcase.1984R3220 — EN — 01.07.1994 — 001.001 — 4
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2. By way of derogationfrom paragraph 1, Member States may lay
down that pig carcases need not be marked if an official record isdrawnup comprisin g for each carcase at least:
— identification,
— warm weight, and
— estimated lean-meat content.
This record must be kept for four weeks and, on the day when it is
drawnup, be certified as a true origin al certificate by a person
entrusted with this verification task.
However, inorder to be marketed un cut inan other Member State,
carcases shall be marked inaccordan ce with the appropriate gradedesignation, as provided for in Article 3, or in accordance with thepercentage expressing their lean-meat content.
3. Without prejudice to the second subparagraph of Article 2 (1) no
fat, muscle or other tissue may be removed from the carcase before
weighing, grading and marking.
Article 5
1. Detailed rules for the applicationof this Regulation , inparticular
those relating to Article 2, and concerning:
— the conversion of different presentations into the standard carcase
presentation,
— the conversion of warm-carcase weight into cold- carcase weight,
and
— the conditions for authorizing grading methods
shall be adopted inaccordan ce with the procedure laid downinArticle
24 of Regulation(EEC) No 2759/75.
2. The authorizations referred to in the second subparagraph of
Article 2 (1) and the second subpararaph of Article 2 (3) shall begranted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24 ofRegulation(EEC) No 2759/75.
Article 6
Regulation(EEC) No 2760/75 is hereby repealed.However, until 31 December 1988, Member States may continue to
apply the scale for grading pig carcases laid down in the Regulation
referred to in the first paragraph instead of the scale determined in
this Regulation.
The Commissionshall, inaccordan ce with the procedure laid downin
Article 24 of Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75, lay down the conditionsfor establishing prices for pigs slaughtered in the territory of the formerGermanDemocratic Republic un til 31 December 1992.
Article 7
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1985.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
inall Member States.1984R3220 — EN — 01.07.1994 — 001.001 — 5
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