P6_TA(2007)0068

Marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less *

European Parliament legislative resolution of 14 March 2007 on the proposal for a Council regulation on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less (COM(2006)0487 — C6-0330/2006 — 2006/0162(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2006)0487) [1],

- having regard to Article 37(2) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0330/2006),

- having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0006/2007),

1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION | AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT |

Amendment 1

Recital 5

(5) To improve the functioning of the single market, the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less should be organised in such a way as to make it as transparent as possible. This will also enable such production to be better organised. For that purpose, the sales descriptions to be used in each language of the Member States for the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less should be specified. This will also improve information for consumers. | (5) To improve the functioning of the single market, the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less should be organised in such a way as to make it as transparent as possible. This will also enable such production to be better organised. For that purpose, the sales descriptions to be used in each language of the Member States for the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less, or meat preparations obtained therefrom, intended for human consumption, should be specified. This will also improve information for consumers. |

Amendment 2

Recital 12

(12) Provision should also be made for the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less to be identified by a letter representing the category to which they belong, and the age on slaughter to be indicated on the labels attached to such meat. | (12) Provision should also be made for the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less to be identified by a letter representing the category to which they belong, by their sales description and by the age on slaughter, which should be indicated on the labels attached to such meat. These indications should also appear in all of the commercial documents. |

Amendment 3

Recital 13

(13) Traders wishing to supplement the sales descriptions provided for in this Regulation by other voluntary information should be able to do so in accordance with the procedure provided for in Articles 16 or 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97. | (13) Traders wishing to supplement the sales descriptions provided for in this Regulation by other voluntary information, for example the type of feed used, should be able to do so in accordance with the procedure provided for in Articles 16 or 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97. |

Amendment 4

Recital 14

(14) To ensure correct use of the information on the labeling in accordance with this Regulation, the data enabling the correctness of the information on the labelling to be verified should be recorded at all stages of production and marketing. | (14) To ensure correct use of the information on the labeling in accordance with this Regulation, the data enabling the correctness of the information on the labelling to be verified should be recorded at all stages of production and marketing. However, some of this information need not be supplied at the stage when the product is supplied to the final consumer. |

Amendment 5

Recital 15a (new)

| (15a) The Member States should lay down the system of penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and ensure that it is implemented. The penalties should be proportionate, but sufficiently dissuasive. They could range from the re-labelling or return of products to their complete destruction. |

Amendment 6

Article 1, paragraph 1, subparagraph 2

It shall apply to the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less produced in the Community or imported from third countries. | It shall apply to the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less, slaughtered after ... [2], whether the meat is produced in the Community or imported from third countries. |

Amendment 7

Article 1, paragraph 2

2. This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1208/81 [3]. | 2. This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2006 of 24 July 2006 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcasses of adult bovine animals [4]. |

Amendment 8

Article 1, paragraph 3

3. This Regulation shall not apply to the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less for which a protected designation of origin or geographical indication has been registered in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. | 3. This Regulation shall not apply to the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less for which a protected designation of origin or geographical indication is registered in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. |

Amendment 9

Article 2

For the purposes of this Regulation, "meat" means all carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, obtained from bovine animals aged twelve months or less, presented fresh, frozen or deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed. | For the purposes of this Regulation, "meat" means all carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, intended for human consumption, obtained from bovine animals aged twelve months or less, presented fresh, frozen or deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed. This Regulation shall also apply to prepared, processed or cooked products which contain meat. |

Amendment 10

Article 3

On slaughter, all bovine animals aged twelve months or less shall be classified by the operators, under the control of the competent authority referred to in Article 8(1), in one of the categories listed in Annex I. | On slaughter, all bovine animals aged twelve months or less shall be classified by the operators, under the control of the competent authority referred to in Article 8(1), in one of the categories listed in Annex I. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with this provision. |

Amendment 11

Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1

1. The meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less shall only be marketed in the various Member States under the sales description(s) listed in Annex II laid down for each Member State. | 1. The meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less shall only be marketed in the various Member States under the sales description(s) listed in Annex II laid down for each Member State. The description(s) shall appear in all commercial documents. |

Amendment 12

Article 4, paragraph 2a (new)

| 2a. This Regulation shall only apply where the meat of bovine animals aged more than eight months is being marketed as other than "beef" (or the equivalent term for adult beef in other Community languages). |

Amendment 13

Article 5, paragraph 1, introductory part

1. Without prejudice to Article 3(1) of Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Articles 13, 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, at each stage of production and marketing, traders shall label the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less with the following information: | 1. Without prejudice to Article 3(1) of Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Articles 13, 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, traders shall label the meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less with the following information: |

Amendment 14

Article 5, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)the category identification letter as defined in Annex I to this Regulation, | (a)the category identification letter as defined in Annex I to this Regulation, at each stage of production and marketing except at the stage when the product is supplied to the final consumer; |

Amendment 15

Article 5, paragraph 1, point (b)

(b)the sales description in accordance with Article 4 of this Regulation, | (b)the sales description in accordance with Article 4 of this Regulation, at each stage of production and marketing, |

Amendment 16

Article 5, paragraph 1a (new)

| 1a. The information referred to in paragraph 1, points (a), (b) and (c), shall also appear in all commercial documents. |

Amendment 17

Article 5, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2

They may not make an indication of the information referred to in paragraph 1(a) compulsory unless it is ensured that the purchaser is provided with the correct information. | deleted |

Amendment 18

Article 7, subparagraph 2, point (a)

(a)an indication of the identification number and the date of birth of the animals; | (a)an indication of the identification number and the date of birth of the animals, solely at slaughterhouse level; |

Amendment 19

Article 8, paragraph 1

1. Before [ 1 July 2007] Member States shall designate the competent authority or authorities responsible for checks relating to the application of this Regulation and inform the Commission thereof. | 1. Before ... [5], Member States shall designate the competent authority or authorities responsible for official checks relating to the application of this Regulation and inform the Commission thereof. |

Amendment 20

Article 9a (new)

| Article 9a Penalties Member States shall lay down the system of penalties to be applied where checks carried out reveal a failure to comply with this Regulation. The penalties shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify the Commission thereof not later than ... [6] and shall also notify it without delay of any amendments thereto. |

mendment 21

Article 10, paragraph 2

2.Amendments may be made to Annexes I and II in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 43(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999. | deleted |

Amendment 22

Annex I, subparagraph 1, point (A)

(A) Category X: bovine animals aged eight months or less | (A) Category V: bovine animals aged eight months or less |

Category identification letter: X; | Category identification letter: V; |

Amendment 23

Annex I, subparagraph 1, point (B)

(B)Category Y: bovine animals aged more than eight months but not more than twelve months | (B)Category Z: bovine animals aged more than eight months but not more than twelve months |

Category identification letter: Y. | Category identification letter: Z. |

Amendment 24

Annex II, point (A), introductory part

(A) For the meat of bovine animals in category X: | (A) For the meat of bovine animals in category V: |

Amendment 25

Annex II, point (B), introductory part

(B) For the meat of bovine animals in category Y: | (B) For the meat of bovine animals in category Z: |

[1] Not yet published in OJ.

[**] Date of entry into force of this Regulation.

[3] OJ L 123, 7.5.1981, p. 3.

[4] OJ L 214, 4.8.2006, p. 1.

[*****] Date of entry into force of this Regulation.

[******] Twelve months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

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