ou.12.90 Official]ournal of the European Communities ^oCoB12BoB] 
Opinion on the proposal foraCouncil Regulation (EEC) laying down health rules for the 
production and placing on the market of fresh meat(^) 
(90BC^2B1^) 
On l^Eebruary!990 the Council decided to consult the Economic and social Committee, 
under Articlel98 of thelreatyestablishingtheEuropean Economic Community,onthe 
abovementioned proposal 
The section for Agriculture and fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Commits 
teesworl^ on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 12 ]uly.TheR.apporteur was A^ir^ick. 
The Committee adopted the Opinion set out below,byaunanimous vote, at its 279th plenary 
session ^meeting of 19 September 1990). 
1. The Committee endorses the Commission proD 
posal, subject to the following comments^ 
2. General comments 
2.1. In view of the sweeping importance of the proD 
posal, the Committee recommends thatA 
2.1.1. Creater emphasis be placed on the protection 
of public health in the recitals, without prejudice to the 
equally importantgoalsof ensuring rational sectoral 
development, increasing productivity and securing the 
income of farmers and farmworker 
2.1.2. Idaving opted foraR-egulation as the instru 
ment most suited to the goal of completing the Internal 
market, every effort be made to ensure careful, unam^ 
biguous wording and translation and to avoid the short 
comings of the present draft, precise wording is indis 
pensable to ensureauniform application which is neu 
tral with respect to competition. 
2.1.^. Acareful check be made to establish whether 
references to other directives—including existing 
implementing directives—concern the directives them 
selves or the provisionsincorporated in national law. 
These directives sometimes contain optional provisions 
which have been incorporated into national law in very 
different ways. ^hereappropriate,proposalsforthe 
conversion of certain loirectives into R.egulationsshould 
be submitted. 
2.2. It is noted with concern, in view of the priority 
which should be given to hygiene and health questions, 
thattheproposal includes a listof exceptions, some 
temporary but others without any limit as to duration. 
2.^. In view of the large number of points which 
have notbeenadequatelyclarified in scientific terms, 
the Committee takes the view that full consultation is 
necessary when future changes are proposed. 
^oi^De^^m^D.^ o. specific comments 
^.1. O^^^o^yo^^^^^e^^^o^ 
o51.1. Articlel,paragraphl 
l^ot applicable to the English version. 
^.1.2. Article!, paragraph2 
The Committee would Irke the retail trade to be subject 
to the general hygiene provisions laid down in the 
proposed f^rective on health rules for products of 
animal origin. An explicit reference to this shouldbe 
included. 
^.IBL Article 2, paragraph2 
r^ot applicable to the English version. 
^.l.^t. Article 2, paragraphs 
In view of present trends,which are likely to intensify, 
acleardistinction should be made between mechanical 
deboning, which isadevelopment of manual methods, 
and recovery of residual meat using separators. 
^.l.eo. Article2, paragraphs 
Onthe definition of ^carcase^,inthe case of pigs the 
head should be counted as part of the carcase. 
^.1.^. Article2, paragraph 12 
Thedefinitionof ^emergency slaughterings shouldbe 
supplemented to read as follows^ ^slaughtering of 
injured animals which are accidentvictimswithout^^^ 
^or^^ health inspections 
No C 332/54 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 90 
3.1.7. Article 3, paragraph 1. A. b) 
The ante mortem inspection can only yield an assess­
ment of fitness for slaughter, and not for consumption. 
The words 'for human consumption' should be deleted. 
3.1.8. Article 3, paragraph 2 
The Committee proposes that, for fresh meat intended 
for particular uses, there should be a uniform indepen­
dent EC mark to indicate the intended use. 
3.1.9. Article 3, paragraph 5 
The Committee endorses the idea of setting up an 
inspection team under the control of the official veterin­
arian. The composition of the team, i.e. the ratio of 
veterinarians to assistants, should be determined by the 
Commission, to preclude distorsion of competition and 
ensure that there is verifiable supervision of the assist­
ants by veterinarians. 
3.1.10. Article 4, paragraph 1 a) 
The word 'horsemeat' should be replaced by 'meat of 
solipeds' because it is necessary to include mules and 
donkeys. 
3.1.11. Article 4, paragraph 2 
The Committee proposes a system for holding back 
carcases suspected of containing residues until the pres­
ence or absence of residues is finally determined. 
3.1.12. Article 5, paragraph 2 
In addition to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation, treat­
ment with preservatives should be mentioned here. 
3.1.13. Article 6 
Reword the last section to read 'after removal of all 
affected parts must be declared fit for human consump­
tion...', since meat which can be consumed without any 
danger to health must be clearly declared as such. 
3.1.14. Article 7 b) 
The Committee would point out to the Commission 
that a positive reaction to a tuberculin test does not 
scientifically prove that the meat of the animal in ques­
tion could infect the consumer with tuberculosis. It is 
suggested that the Commission make a thorough re­
examination of the relevant facts. 3.1.15. Article 8, paragraph 2 b) 
Various members of the Committee have pointed out 
that the sexual odours in carcases of uncastrated male 
pigs with a weight between 60 and 90 kg are primarly 
a matter of quality rather than hygiene. It is more 
important to respect the consumer's requirement for 
pigmeat which is unobjectionable in both smell and 
taste. 
3.1.16. Article 10 
The Committee would prefer this Article to provide for 
the possibility of registering a complaint against the 
withdrawal of EC approval. 
3.1.17. Article 16 
The Committee thinks it necessary to define more pre­
cisely the very vague concept of 'establishments which 
have small production'. 
3.1.18. Article 19 
The Committee broadly welcomes the manner of entry 
into force of this Regulation, but regards it as essential 
for the transition period before its entry into force to 
be shorter. 
3.2. Annexes 
3.2.1. Annex I, paragraph 4 d) 
There are two references in this part of the Geman text 
to the harmless removal of meat intended for human 
consumption. The original text and the translations 
should be checked and amended where necessary. 
3.2.2. Annex I, paragraph 5 
It should be made clear that waste water produced by 
defrosting is to be drained off directly into the waste 
water system through a sealed pipe. 
3.2.3. Annex I, chapter IV, paragraph 17 
a) 
The requirement to wash hands and arms with hot 
water should read 'with warm water'. 
Add after the last sentence: 
'The consumption or presence of meals or drinks is 
also forbidden.' 
31. 12. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 332/55 
3.2.4. Annex I, chapter V, paragraph 25, 
first sub-paragraph 
For greater clarity the following wording is proposed: 
'Animals must undergo ante mortem inspection on 
the day of their arrival at the slaughterhouse. The 
inspection must be repeated...'. 
3.2.5. Annex I, chapter VII, paragraph 
40 A h) 
Because of residue problems, the Commission should 
assess whether the kidneys of animals over the age of 
24 months should be witheld from human consumption. 
3.2.6. Annex I, chapter VII, paragraph 
40 C k) 
Incision of the lymph nodes of the udder in sows should 
be avoided on hygiene grounds, since experience has 
shown that such incision often opens encapsulated, 
possibly leading to contamination of otherwise healthy 
meat. The whole udder ridge should be removed. 
3.2.7. Annex I, chapter VII, paragraph 
40 E m) 
The word 'horses' should be replaced with 'solipeds'. 
3.2.8. Annex I, chapter VII, paragraph 
42 A c) 
The Committee proposes the following wording: 
'c) affected by extensive parasitic infestation in the 
subcutaneous or muscular tissues;...'. 
3.2.9. Annex I, chapter VIII, paragraph 
45 b) 
The Committee proposes that the last sentence be 
replaced by: 
'Livers, hearts and kidneys can be packed either at 
slaughter temperature or at an internal temperature 
of +3°C or less. If they are packed at slaughter 
Done at Brussels, 19 September 1990. temperature, they must be immediately cooled to 
an internal temperature of +3°C or less.' 
3.2.10. Annex I, chapter VIII, paragraph 
45 c) 
The Committee proposes that the words 'in the same 
group of buildings and...' in the third sentence be 
deleted. 
3.2.11. Annex I, chapter IX, paragraph 47 
This provision gives the official veterinarian total dis­
cretion, extending in principle even to arbitrary measur­
es. The form of supervision must satisfy the criterion 
of appropriateness as well as necessity. 
3.2.12. Annex I, chapter XI, para graph 59 
Fresh cut meat and offal carried in transport containers 
need no additional wrapping. The second sub-para­
graph should therefore read: 
'... unless it is suspended or in containers throughout 
its transport.' 
This is explicitly permitted in chapter XIII, paragraph 
73, second sub-paragraph. 
3.2.13. Annex I, chapter XII, paragraph 64 
It is proposed that: 
a) the word 'immediately' in the first line be deleted; 
b) the following be added at the end of the paragraph: 
'Transport of meat at slaughter temperature is per­
mitted for up to 2 hours from the end of slaughter­
ing, provided that cutting and processing or cooling 
takes place immediately after transport.' 
3.2.14. Annex I, chapter XIII, paragraph 
68 
The Committee would point out that sealing delivery 
vehicles is impossible in pratice. For deliveries to a 
number of customers, an authorized person would have 
to check and apply new seals after every delivery. This 
should be avoided on organizational and cost grounds. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE