COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMVIUNITIES 
C0M(9 D375 final 
Brussels, 25 October 1991 
Amendment to the proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down the health rules for the production and 
placing on the market of meat products 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(3) 
of the EEC-Treaty) 
->f 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
On 12 February 1990, the Commission sent to the Council a proposal for a 
Regulation laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the 
market of meat products^1). 
In response to the opinion delivered by Parliament during its sitting of 
9 July 1991^2), the Commission has decided, pursuant to Article 149(3) of the 
Treaty, to amend its original proposal. 
(1) OJ No L 84, 02.05.1990, p. 89 
(2) 0J No L .. . 
n AO 
AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
laying down the health rules for the production and 
placing on the market of meat products 
(Presented by the Commission 
pursuant to Article 149(3) of the EEC Treaty) 
On 12 February 1990, the Commission presented the above proposal to the Council. 
In response to the opinion of Parliament delivered during its sitting of 
9 July 1991, the following amendments are hereby made to the initial proposal: 
1. The following recitals are added: 
"Whereas the Commission should be provided with adequate resources to carry 
out its supervisory role; 
Whereas the Commission has agreed to submit a proposal to the Council for a 
general framework directive on food hygiene and food safety as soon as pos­
sible, and preferably before the end of 1991;" 
2. Article 1(2) is replaced by the following: 
"2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. ... of 
(laying down general health rules applicable to the production and 
placing on the market of products of animal origin and specific heaith 
rules applicable to certain products of animal orig:n)(1); this 
Regulation shall not apply to the preparation and storage of rc«at products 
in retail shops or in premises adjacent to points of sale, where such 
preparation and storage are preformed solely for the purpose of supplying 
the final customer directly. Where necessary, the Commission, in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11, shall adopt the 
rules necessary to ensure uniform application of the activities referred 
to in this paragraph." 
( 1 ) 0 J No ... 
2 -
3. The following indent is added to point 14 of Article 2: 
"- Council Regulation (EEC) No. ... of laying down general health 
rules applicable to the production and placing on the market of products 
of animal origin and specific health rules applicable to certain products 
of animal origin." 
4. The following paragraph is added to article 4: 
"3. The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, and having consult­
ed Parliament, shall take, before 31 December 1991, a decision concerning 
the incorporation into meat products of starch or proteins of animal or 
vegetable origin and the maximum percentages which may be authorized from 
a technological viewpoint." 
5. Article 6(1) is replaced by the following: 
"1. Experts from the Commission shall make on-the-spot checks in order to 
monitor the application of this Regulation. They shall, in particular, 
verify whether establishments are actually complying with this Regulation. 
The Commission shall inform the Member States of the results of the 
invest igat ion. 
A Member State in whose territory a check is being carried out shall give 
all necessary assistance to the experts in carrying out their duties." 
6. The following paragraph is added to Article 7: 
"4. Derogations shall apply only where they are consistent with Council 
Regulation (EEC) No. ... of laying down general health rules 
applicable to the production and placing on the market of products of 
animal origin and specific health rules applicable to certain products of 
animal origin." 
7. In Annex A, Chapter I (2)(a) is replaced by the following: 
"(a) A sufficient number of facilities for cleaning and disinfecting hands and 
facilities for cleaning tools with hot water. Taps must not be hand or 
arm operable. For washing hands, the facilities must have hot and cold 
running water or water premixed to a suitable temperature, cleaning and 
disinfecting products and hygienic means of drying hands." 
8. In Annex A, Chapter I (5) is replaced by the following: 
"5. A refrigeration plant to keep the internal temperature of the meat, minced 
meat, meat products or meat preparations at the levels required by the 
Regulations referred to in Article 2(14) and this Regulation. 
This plant shall include a system for draining off condensed water without 
any possibility of contamination of the meat, minced meat, meat products 
or meat preparations. The condensed water must be evacuated directly by a 
closed pipe connected to the waste water sewer;" 
9. In Annex A, Chapter II (2) is replaced by the following: 
"2. Work rooms and working instruments and equipment shall not be used for 
purposes other than work on meat, minced meat, meat products and meat 
préparât ions. 
However, they may be used for the preparation of other foodstuffs either 
simultaneously or at different times, once authorization has been obtained 
from the competent authority, provided that all appropriate measures are 
taken to prevent contamination of the products covered by this Regulation 
or adverse changes in them." 
10. In Annex 1, Chapter II (6) is replaced by the following: 
"6. Detergents, disinfectants and similar substances shall be used in such a 
way that equipment, working instruments, meat, minced meat, meat products 
and meat preparations are not adversely affected. Their use shall be 
followed by thorough rinsing of such equipment and working instruments 
with potable water. Products for maintenance and cleaning shall be kept 
in a separate, lockable place in order to avoid any risk of foodstuffs 
being contaminated;" 
11. In Annex A, Chapter IV (4)(f) is replaced by the following: 
"(f) hygiene measures must be taken in order to prevent any risk of the 
mutual contamination of products which, having first undergone different 
treatment, are handled in the same wrapping and packaging room. 
(g) immediately after packaging, the meat products shall be placed in the 
storage rooms provided for the purpose." 
12. In Annex A, Chapter VI (1), second subparagraph is replaced by the following: 
"Meat products which can be kept at ambient temperature may be stored in 
stores outside the establishment approved for the manufacture of meat 
products, provided that the competent authority has established that these 
stores comply with conditions equivalent to those laid down in this 
Régulât ion." 
13. In Annex B, Chapter I (1)(f) is replaced by the following: 
"(f) a room for cleaning moveable equipment such as hooks and containers, and 
a lockable room or cupboard for the storage of cleaning and maintenance 
tools and products." 
- 5 -
14. In Annex B, Chapter II (1)(d) is replaced by the following: 
"(d) the thermometers of heating equipment are regularly and frequently 
checked against calibrated thermometers." 
15. In Annex B, Chapter II (4) is replaced by the following: 
"4. Member States may allow the use of recirculated water for cooling heat-
processed containers. Such water must be filtered and have either been 
properly disinfected with chlorine or undergone some other treatment 
approved in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11. The 
purpose of such treatment is to make the recirculated water comply with 
the standards laid down in Annex l(E) to Directive 80/778/EEC so that it 
cannot contaminate the products and does not constitute a hazard to human 
health. The recirculated water shall circulate in closed circuit sealed 
off from direct accès to potable water pipes so that it cannot be used 
for other purposes." 
16. In Annex B, Chapter III (2)(a), second subparagraph is replaced by the fol­
lowing: 
"These controls shall cover utensils, fittings, machinery, staff, raw 
materials and products at all stages of production." 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 375 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-431-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-76230-6 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
Lr2985 Luxembourg