Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases and Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases and extending Regulation (EEC) No 338/91
Date: 1994-04-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: carcase, fresh meat, marketing, marketing standard, refrigerated product, sheep

IPMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(94) 108 final 
Brussels, 13.04.1994 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION 

ON THE DEFINITION OF THE COMMUNITY STANDARD QUALITY 
OF FRESH OR CHILLED SHEEP CARCASES 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION  (EC) 

amending Regulation  (EEC) No 338/91 determining the 
Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases 
and Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92 concerning the Community scale 
for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and 
determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep 
carcases and extending Regulation  (EEC) No 338/91 

(presented by the Commission) 

INTRODUCTION 

The central  feature on the Community  sheepmeat  regime  is a premium  paid 
once  a  year  on  eligible  ewes  which  is  designed  to  compensate  for  the 
difference  between  the basic  price established  each  year  by  the Council 
and  the observed  price of  lamb on Community  markets.  In order  for  this 
regime  to operate  correctly,  it  is necessary  to  fix  a  standard  quality 
of  lamb  to  be  taken  into  account  by  Member  States  in  observing  market 
prices  and  reporting  them  to  the  Commission.  in  order  to  ensure  that 
the  reported  prices  fairly  represent  the  returns  for  the  typical 
Community  producer  it  is necessary  that  this standard  quality  excludes 
from  the  price  reported  the  high  prices  which  are  obtained  for  very 
light  lambs  and  the  low pices which are obtained  for overfat  lambs. 

In view of the differences  in market traditions  in the different  Member 
State,  in particular  the different  importance of  livestock  markets, the 
different  progress which  has been made  from one Member  State  to  another 
is  establishing  carcase  classification  systems,  and  the  different 
importance  of  the  various  weight  categories  in  individual  Member-
States,  the  establishment  of  a  generally  acceptable  standard  quality-
has  not  proved  easy.  When,  therefore,  the  Council  adopted  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  2137/92  which  provides  the  present  definition  of  the  standard 
quality  it provided  for a review  and  for a new decision  on  the  standard 
quality  to apply  from July  1994. 

According  to  statements  included  in  the  minutes  of  the  Council,  the 
proposal  for  the  future  system  should  take  account  of  a  review  of  the 
possibility  of  setting  up  a  system  of  live  grading  comparable  to 
carcase  classification  ;  a  report  to be made  by  the  Commission  of  the 
application  of  the existing  standard  quality;  and  a  study  of  the  Greek 
market with  a view  to determining  whether  animals of  fat  class  3 should 
be  included  in the  standard  quality. 

This  report  and  the  proposal  which  accompany  it  have  been  prepared  to 
respond  to these  requirements. 

A 

REPORT 

1.  Standard  Quality 

Article  4(1) of  Regulation  (EEC) No  3013/89  requires  that  a weekly 
average weighted  price  for the  carcases of  sheep,  fresh or chilled, 
on the representative  Community  markets be established  on the basis 
of  the  prices  recorded  on  the  representative  market  or  markets  of 
each  quotation  area  for the  Community  standard  quality  of  fresh or 
chilled  sheep carcases. 

This  concept  of  standard  quality  was  introduced  following  the  1989 
reform  unifying  the  sheepmeat  regime  by  the  gradual  discarding  of 
regional  premia  and  their  replacement  by  a  Community  premium  based 
on  the  difference  between  the  Community  market  price  and  the  basic 
price. 

The  current  definition  of  standard  quality  contained  in  Council 
Regulation  (EEC) No 338/91  reads 

"lamb  of  less  than  one  year  old  at  slaughter  of  acceptable  fat 
level  with  a  carcase  weight  or  estimated  carcase  weight  of  at 
least  12 kg." 

It was  applied  for the  1991,  1992  and  1993 marketing  years  for the 
purposes  of  price  formation  and  premium  calculation  and  up  to  30 
June of the  1994 marketing  year  applies  for the purposes of  private 
storage. 

The  practical  implementation  of  this  definition  has  involved  the 
elimination,  from  price  reporting,  of  lightweight  carcases  of 
between  9  and  11.9  kg  in  Spain,  Italy,  Greece  and  Portugal. 
Furthermore, the Commission  implementing  provisions  interpreted  the 
phrase  "acceptable  fat  level",  in  the  absence  of  carcase 
classification  standards,  by  the  application  of  different  upper 
weight  limits  for  carcases  reflecting  Member  State  production 
practices.  These  limits  are  16  kg  in  Spain,  Italy,  Greece  and 
Portugal,  21.5  kg  in Great  Britain,  Ireland  and  Northern  Ireland, 
22  kg  in  France  and  23  kg  in  Denmark,  Germany,  Belgium  and  the 
Netherlands. 

Since  its  introduction  in  May  1991,  price  reporting  based  on 
standard  quality  has  worked  well  in  so  far  as  its  practical 
operation  is  concerned.  Except  in  respect  of  Italy  in  1991  where 
prices  had  to  be  adjusted  to  align  them  to  standard  quality, 
prices  for  the  lamb  weight  categories  included  in  it  have  been 
Member  States,  for  the  most  part, 
recorded  without  difficulty. 
have  expressed 
definition. 
present 
Furthermore  there  has  been  a  tendency  for  Member  State  market 
prices  to  converge  and  this  tendency  was most  notable  in  1993  when 
the  difference  between  the  highest  and  lowest  Member  State  prices 
was  only  103  ECU  per  100  kg  compared  to  168  ECU  in  1992  and  an 
average of  176 ECU each  year  in the period  1986-1990.  The graph  in 
Annex  I  shows  the  trend  in  prices  since  1980  and  the  convergence 
evident  in recent years. 

satisfaction 

with 

the 

The  ending  of  the  variable  slaughter  premium  and  clawback  in  1991 
has  led  to  the  practical  unification  of  the  sheep  mearket. 
Nevertheless  certain  factors, including the variation  in  production 
and  consumption  patterns,  seasonality  of  supply  and  degree  of  self 
sufficiency  together  with  transport  costs  continue  to  influence 
prices  and  to  account  for  the  differences  still  evident  in  them 
between Member States. 

Carcase Classification 

Commission  Regulation  (EEC)  No  461/93  laying  down  detailed  rules 
for the Community  scale  for the classification of  carcases of  ovine 
animals entered  into  force on  6 March  1993 with  provision  for price 
reporting  based  on  classification with effect  from 8 April  1993. 
To  date,  only  the  UK,  France,  Denmark,  Spain  and  Greece  have 
provided  prices  based  on  classification  (see  Annex  II).  Among 
these,  only  the  UK,  Denmark  and  Greece  have  provided  a  breakdown 
of  classification  of  carcases  based  on  lamb  numbers  but  no  Member 
State  has provided  prices  on  the  basis  of  the  percentage  in  weight 
terms  of  each  quality  in  order  to  provide  a  true  Member  State 
average  market  price.  Furthermore  apart  from  Denmark,  the  UK  in 
respect  of  Northern  Ireland  and  perhaps  France,  the  size  of  the 
sample  of  carcases  graded  is not  sufficient  to  enable  a  judgement 
of the value of the reported  prices  to be made. 

Germany  has reported  prices based  on the subsequent  grading  of  lots 
of  lamb already  paid  for but, for a large variety  of reasons, other 
Member  States  have  not  yet  begun  price  reporting  based  on  carcase 
classification.  Among  these reasons  are both producer  and  abattoir 
reluctance  to  be  paid  or  pay  on  the  basis  of  classification, 
slaughter  of  lambs  by  private  operators  in  municipal  slaughter 
houses,  the  common  practice  of  selling  lambs  in  live  lots  which 
means  that  payment  to  producers  is  on  a  flat  rate,  disagreements 
about  who  pays  for  classification  and  who  classifies  and  more 
general  disagreements  between  abattoir  owners  and  the  national 
authorities.  Despite  this  list  of  difficulties  encountered  in 
setting  up  price  reporting  based  on  carcase  classification,  most 
Member  States  have  indicated  that  progress  is  being  made  and  that 
they  expect  to  begin  price  reporting  in  the  near  future.  A 
detailed  description  of  progress  on  classification  at  Member  State 
level  is included  in Annex III. 

In  this  context,  it  should  be  noted  that  work  is  now  almost 
completed  on  the  preparation  of  explanatory  leaflets  with  colour 
photographs  depicting  the  various  conformation  and  fat  classes  in 
the  SEUROP  grid  and  is  in  progress  in  respect  of  the  grid  for 
light  carcases.  Furthermore,  the  Control  Committee  examining  the 
operation  of  classification  has  already  visited  France  with  visits 
to most  other Member  States  foreseen  during  this and next year. 

Live grading  of  lamb 

In order  to examine  the  possibility  of  setting  up a  system  of  live 
grading  of  sheep  comparable  to  carcase  classification,  a  series  of 
exercises  were  carried  out  in  conjunction  with  the  industry  at 
Carlisle  (U.K.),  Sancoins  (France) and  Bunnik  (Netherlands).  Sales 
of  lambs  via  livestock  markets  or  other  arrangements  are 
significantly  more  important  in  the  Union  than  direct  sales  to 

abattoirs  and  in  the two  major  producing  Member  States,  the  United 
Kingdom  and  Spain, account  for up to 80 % of producer  lamb sales. 

The  results  of  the  exercises  carried  out  at  Carlisle  and  Sancoins 
indicate  that  the  correlation  between  estimated  conformation  and 
fat  classes  carried  out  on  live  lambs  and  actual  conformation  and 
fat  classes  assessed  after  slaughter  is  not  sufficiently  accurate 
to  warrant  the  setting  up  of  a  live  grading  system  comparable  to 
that of carcase classification.  Among the difficulties  encountered 
in  attempting  live  grading  are  the  lack  of  adequate  penning 
facilities  for  this  purpose  in  most  markets,  the  variation  in 
conformation  and  fat  cover  between  different  sheep  breeds,  the 
variation  in cover and dryness  of wool  and gut  fill. 

At  Bunnink,  however,  where  manning  and  penning  conditions  were 
adequate  for  individual  handling  and  marking  of  lamb,  where  only 
two  similar  breed  types  were  present  and  where  wool  tended  to  be 
uniform,  live grading  did  relate very well  to carcase  grading. 

4.  Grading  of  light weight  (<13 kg)  carcases 

In  response  to  the  Council's  request  concerning  the  suitable  fat 
classes  to  be  considered  as  first  quality  carcases  within  the 
classification  grid  defined  in Article  3(2) third  subparagraph  and 
Annex  III of Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92, the Commission's  Services 
undertook  an  examination  of  carcases  in  Greece  together  with 
experts  from  Southern Member States. 

As a result  of this examination  it was agreed  that,  for each weight 
category,  to  be  considered  as  first  quality,  carcases  should  fall 
within  fat classes  2 or  3. 
This was considered  to be  in  line with 
commercial  reality,  particularly  as  carcases  falling  within  fat 
class  1  are  generally  associated  with  illness  arising  for 
nutritional  or disease reasons. 

Conclusions 

The  lack  of  progress  in  implementing  price  reporting  based  on 
carcase  classification  in  effect  makes  it  very  difficult  to  base 
standard  quality  on classification  at this stage. 

In  addition,  the  practical  importance  of  live  lamb  sales  by 
producers  through  livestock  markets  or  other  live  outlets  and  the 
general  incompatibility  of  that  practice  with  formal  grading 
suggests  that  price  reporting,  on  a  weight  basis,  should  be 
maintained  in  the  future  for  live  animals  in  Member  States  where 
that practice  is important. 

The  fact  that  from  a  practical  viewpoint  the present  definition  of 
standard  quality  is  working  well  together  with  the  trend  in  price 
convergence  apparent  in  it  suggests  that  this  definition  should 
continue  to  be  used  until  such  time  as  a  definition  based  on 
carcase  classification  can  be  constructed  and  fully  implemented 
while  at  the  same  time  accepting  the  continuation  of  some 
liveweight  price  reporting. 

There is still need for considerable further progress in so far as 
the practical implementation of carcase classification is concerned 
so that only when this has taken place can a judgement be made as 
to its use in the context of standard quality.  However it is also 
necessary  to  set  a  target  date  at  which  a  definition  based  on 
classification can be introduced with prices therefrom contributing 
ideally  alongside  the  present  definition,  to  the  make  up  of 
Member  State  and the Union  average  market  prices.  The Commission 
takes the view that current progress needs to be increased  so that 
such  a dual  system  could  operate  from  the  beginning  of  the  1998 
marketing year.  This would be on the basis of proposals to be made 
in the context  of the report  already  foreseen  before  31 December 
1995 in Article 9 of Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92 but which  should 
now be made before 31 December 1996. 

In these circumstances, the Commission  proposes to the Council to 
postpone * to  the  beginning  of  the  1998  marketing  year  the 
introduction  of  the  new  definition  of  Community  Standard  Quality 
foreseen for 1  July 1994 and in consequence to repeal Article 8 of 
Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92. 

The accompanying proposal entrains no  financial consequences. 

Only the Union has power to act  as regards the measures proposed. 
These proposals extend  the duration  of an existing  regulation and 
the time scale for a report provided for in a second regulation. 

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V I A N DE 

O V I N E-  SHEEPMEAT  -  SCHAFFFLEISCH  LEB/ 

GRANOE-BRETAGNE 

-  GREAT  B R I T A IN  -  GROSS  BRETANIEN 

01.62.94 

1.  PRIX  en Ecu/tookg  se ton  La  g r i l l e-  P r i c es 

in  ECU/100  kg  based  on  g r id  -  P r e i se 

in  ECU/100  kg  nach  SEUROP 

Janvier 

Février 

Mars 

A v r il 

Mai 

Juin 

J u i l l et 

Août 

Septembre  Octobre  Novembre  Décembre 

1993 

E 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

U 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

R 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

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2 
3 
4 
5 

P 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

291 
292 

295 
244 

265 
217 

230 
181 

216 
172 

193 
149 

192 
160 

195 
164 

220 
197 

233 
197 

277 
293 
271 
250 

279 
284 
266 
259 

270 
289 
264 
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279 
286 
267 
244 

265 
262 
231 
191 

257 
258 
232 
211 

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227 
196 
146 

227 
224 
203 
154 

221 
212 
182 
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207 
206 
185 
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163 
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183 
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168 
142 

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207 
209 
170 
145 

212 
199 
174 
164 

219 
215 
189 
175 

230 
233 
203 
176 

211 
213 
191 
170 

228 
228 
206 
182 

262 
275 

266 
265 

244 
248 

215 
222 

187 
200 

179 
185 

176 
183 

191 
190 

205 
214 
207  220 

2.  P r ix  en  ECU/100  kg  ( a c t u e l le  q u a l i t é' 

type  ) - ^ P r e s e nt  S t a n d a rd  Q u a l t i y) 

- ( A k t u e l le  S t a n d a r d q u a l i t at ] 

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303,8 

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221,5 

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187,5  185,9  196,4  215,5  230,9 

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V I A N DE 

O V I NE 

"  SHEEPMEAT  -  SCHAFFLEISCH 

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1.  PRIX  en Ecu/iookg  se Ion 

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in  ECU/100  kg  based  on  g r id  -  P r e i se 

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223 

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183 
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198 
179 

225 

229 
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301 
298 
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290 
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260 
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243 
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158 

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199 
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170 
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171 
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231 
208 
177 

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181 

152 
253 

236 
260 

206 
247 

170 
196 

159 
188 

143 
168 

149 
173 

167 
190 

180 
204 

174 
209 

2.  PRIX  en  ECU/100  kg  ( a c t u e l le  q u a l i té 

t y p e) 

- 

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- 

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266,3 

277,6 

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175,8 

171,4 

185,7 

200,8 

210,4 

 
VI -02 

V I A N DE 

O V I N E-  SHEEPMEAT  -  SCHAFFLEISCH 

LEB/ 

01.02.94 

ALLEMAGNE 

-  GERMANY  -  DEUTSCHLAND 

1.  PRIX  en Ecu/iookg  se Ion  la  g r i l le  -  P r i c es  in  ECU/100  kg  based  on  g r id  -  P r e i se 

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213 

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232 
218 
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246 
242 
225 
233 
234 

237 
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234 
232 

237 
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228 
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247  242 
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239  232 
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255  244 

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240  235 
245  237 
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247,4 

240,4 

264,9 

283,3 

298,9 

295,4  261,1  249,2 

250,5 

234,9 

231,8 

250,2  259,1 

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173 

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206 
206 

206 
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154 
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149 
149 

172 
172 

175 
175 

182 
182 

182 
182 

134 

134 

134 

120 

102 

83 

79 

102 

105 

112 

110 

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- 

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213,4 

215,3 

220,9 

220,9 

220,9 

214,0 

204,2 

186,0 

180,0 

189,9 

191,7 

197,0 

204,4 

VI-D2 

V I A N DE 

O V I N E"  SHEEPMEAT 

-  SCHAFFLEISCH 

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5 

0  1 
2 
3 
A 
5 

P  1 
2 
3 
A 
5 

378 
371 
279 
261 

352 
3A7 
259 
2A0. 

32A 
320 
230 
205 

269 
276 
195 
177 

196 
215 
151 
126 

A00 
397 
316 
297 

376 
366 
296 
280 

294 
352 
351 
268 
2A6 

270 
301 
301 
2A1 
216 

258 
287 
292 
2A1 

A01 
393 
302 
280 

372 
371 
292 
275 

298 
357 
3A3 
275 
250 

274 
297 
306 
259 
A07 

262 
269 
28A 
235 

378 
374 
291 
270 

363 
355 
277 
257 

298 
336 
330 
260 
231 

274 
293 
239 
199 

2A7 
276 
223 
183 

213 
351 
339 
26A 
241 

213 
339 
338 
259 
242 

264 
317 
316 
248 
221 

235 
259 
269 
223 
188 

213 
230 
2A3 
202 
167 

198 
341 
328 
262 
240 

209 
323 
316 
232 
232 

207 
298 
297 
227 
215 

202 
253 
262 
201 
180 

198 
221 
231 
183 
1A2 

197 
335 
323 
213 
20A 

225 
326 
319 
241 
231 

218 
293 
295 
226 
216 

187 
249 
256 
194 
184 

197 
229 
230 
201 
184 

326 
302 
187 
175 

324 
309 
218 
191 

286 
283 
202 
175 

226 
224 
240 
173 
143 

235 
235 
211 
222 

317 
296 
182 
16A 

324 
310 
212 
152 

287 
282 
199 
127 

225 
233 
237 
173 
102 

235 
235 
218 

343 
320 
205 
192 

319 
315 
206 
180 

298 
290 
202 
155 

226 
244 
248 
180 
129 

200 
200 
192 

1993 

203 
357 
344 
250 
232 

216 
342 
335 
249 
228 

263 
315 
311 
234 
204 

231 
260 
269 
208 
193 

225 
235 
2AA 
206 
171 

2.  PRIX  en  ECU/100  kg  ( a c t u e l le  q u a l i t e* 

t y p e)  - 

( P r e s e nt  S t a n d a rd  Q u a l i t y) 

- 

( A k t u e L le  S t a n d a r d q u a L i t a t) 

263,2 

265,2 

288,3 

314,4  313,2  298,4  281,9  269,6 

258,4  246,1  248,1  262,1 

275,8 

VI-02 

V I A N DE 

O V I N E-  SHEEPMEAT  -  SCHAFFLEISCH 

GRECE  -  GREECE 

-  GRIECHENLAND 

1.  PRIX  en Ecu/iookg  se Ion  la  g r i l le 
Semaine n° 

41 

40 

42 

43 

-  P r i c es 

in  ECU/100  kg  based  on  G r id  -  P r e i se 

in  ECU/100  kg  nach  SEUROP-System 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

420.0 
420.0 

356.1 
356.1 

334.8 
334.8 

319.6 
319.6 

319.6 
319.6 

368.3 
368.3 

334.8 
334.8 

304.4 
304.4 

392.6 
392.6 

350.0 
350.0 

325, 
325 

366.7 

325.7 

319.6 
319.6 

310.4 
310.4 

304.4 

312.0 
312.0 

362.2 
362.2 

325.7 
325.7 

298.3 
298.3 

304.4 

356.1 

319.6 

292.2 

2.  PRIX  en  ECU/100  kg  ( a c t u e l le  q u a l i té 

t y p e) 

- 

( P r e s e nt  S t a n d a rd  Q u a l i t y) 

- 

( A k t u e l le  S t a n d a r d q u a l i t a t) 

327,2  324,8 

309,2 

304,9 

300,5 

305,4 

290,4 

282,7 

281,9  275,8 

281,5  280,6 

283,6 

ANNEX 3 

Subject; 

Implementation  of classification scale by Member  States 

I.  SUMMARY  OF  STATEMENTS  MADE  AT  MEETING  OF  WORKING  PARTY  ON  22 

OCTOBER  1993 AND  4 FEBRUARY  1994 

BELGIUM 

Nothing  officially. No volunteers. 
Two  groups  had  undertaken  a  promotion  campaign  (classification  in 
accordance with the  scale). 
Direct  sales by producer  to consumer  (50%). 

DENMARK 

Producers  very  favourable. 
One volunteer  undertaking  (computerized  system). 
40%  of payments based on scale. 
Objective: to extend  classification  in accordance with  the  scale to 
all  slaughterhouses. 

- 

GERMANY 

Price  recording  represents  5% of  national  production. 
Producers  reticent  (lack of confidence  vis-a-vis  the  slaughterhouse 
and  some  preference  for  flat-rate  payment  per  head  or  kilogram  of 
carcase). 
Four volunteer  slaughterhouses  in three Lander; some  irregularities 
in prices. 
Direct  sales by producer to consumer  (50%). 

GREECE 

Producers  favourable. 
One volunteer  slaughterhouse. 
Problems  in presentation  of carcases. 

SPAIN 

Determination  on part of authorities  to make progress  quickly. 
"EUROP"  scale:  difficulty  in  application  (does  not  correspond  to 
trade  practices);  prices  paid  based  on  carcase  weight:  13-16 kg; 
16-18 kg; >  18 kg. 
Second  scale:  seven  volunteer  slaughterhouses  which  provide  prices 
regularly  (good geographical  distribution). 
20%  direct  sales by producer to  slaughterhouse. 

FRANCE 

"EUROP"  scale operational  (15% of  national  production). 
Introduction  of price collection  system  (10 correspondents). 
Reticence  on  part  of producers  (price  stage  different  from  present 
stage). 
70%  direct  sales by producer to  slaughterhouse. 

M 

IRELAND 

No  spectacular  progress  (reticence  on  part  of  producers  and 
slaughterhouses). 
Definite  intention on part of  slaughterhouses to apply the  scale in 
a  manner  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  slaughterhouses  (in 
particular with a view to  export). 
Consideration  being  given to a simplified  classification scale. 
60% direct  sales by producer to  slaughterhouse. 

ITALY 

Contacts being made. 
Four  slaughterhouses  ready. 
Difficulties  in working  out  price  paid  to  producer  (lambs  are  sold 
in batches). 
Producers  reticent  (they  fear that the price will  be  lower). 
35%  direct  sales by prodcer  to  slaughterhouse. 

NETHERLANDS 

"SEUROP"  classification operational  (with training  of  classifiers). 
Little  interest  in slaughterhouses. 
Particularly  interesting  for  export  of  live  animals:  one  group 
classifies  and  purchases  live  animals  in accordance  with  the  scale 
(60 000  head);  cost  of  classification  HFL 0.5  per  animal  with  a 
view to exporting  live  lambs to France  (60 000  head). 
5% direct  sales by producer  to  slaughterhouse. 

- 
- 

- 

PORTUGAL 

- 

Producers  interested. 
Three  to  six  volunteer  slaugtherhouses,  but  no  price  recording  at 
present. Classification should  present  no particular difficulties. 
Administrative  difficulties  due to restructuring  of  IROMA  (replaced 
by  IPA). 

UNITED  KINGDOM 

volunteer 

slaughterhouses 

Three to six volunteer  slaughterhouses  in Great Britain. 
Two 
These 
slaughterhouses  account  for  4%  of  the  first  placing  on  market  at 
slaughterhouse  stage. 
Two problems: 
1.  slaughterhouse  owners  are  not  convinced  that  notifying  prices 
paid  to producers  is in their  interest  (in particular  vis-a-vis 
their main  purchasers) 

in  Northern 

Ireland. 

2.  lack  of  cooperation  between  slaughterhouses  and  the  Ministry 

mainly  for commercial  reasons. 

20%  direct  sales by producer  to  slaughterhouse. 

J< 

II. NATIONAL PROVISIONS  (forwarded by the Member States) 

DENMARK 

Decree  of  the Ministry  of  Agriculture  of  10 December 1993  (entry 
into force on 1 January  1994). 
All carcases over 7 kg must be classified. 
The  five  "EUROP"  grades  are  subdivided  into  15  sub-grades  (see 
Annex) 
A five-colour scale has been introduced. 
Two  categories of  carcases  (L: lambs  less than  12 months  old; S: 
other animals of ovine species). 
There is no obligation in Denmark to use the classification scale, 
but once a decision is taken to do so, checks become obligatory. 
Price paid to producer: price warm -2%. 
Other  corrections  possible:  the  undertaking  must  fill  in  a 
correction form (see Annex). 
Weekly  reports  of  market  prices  for  joint  committee  on  meat 
industry. 
Unannounced  checks  followed  by  an  inspection  report.  This  may 
result  in an infringement being reported. Where the slaughterhouse 
disputes the case, an expert opinion is requested. 

GREECE 

Correcting factors used: 

head 
offal 
genital organs 0.2% 
17.2% 
TOTAL 

7% 
10% 

The 17.2% is deducted from the total weight of the carcase in order 
to arrive at the Community reference presentation. This results in 
a  price  forwarded  to the  Commission  which  is  increased  by  17.2%. 
This provision only applies to heavy lambs (more than 13 kg). 

Decision  of  regional  prefect  fixing  the  list  of  approved 
slaughterhouses  and  designating  the  veterinarians  and  agronomists 
responsible  for  checks  on  classification  and  price  gathering. At 
present,  this  decision  applies  only  to  the  region  of  Ioannina 
(prices  forwarded  every  Tuesday  to  the  animal  production 
directorate). 

Correction for weight warm/weight cold: 2%. 

GERMANY 

Classification of lambs compusory  (letter L followed by category: e.g. 
L.E.I.). Entry into force: 1 July 1993. 

Je 

PROPOSAL 

for a 

COUNCIL  REGULATION  (EC) No  .../94 

of 

1994 

amending  Regulation  (EEC) No  338/91 determining  the 
Community  standard  quality  of  fresh or chilled  sheep  carcases 
and Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92  concerning  the Community  scale 
for the classification of carcases  of ovine animals  and 
determining  the Community  standard  quality of  fresh or chilled  sheep 
carcases  and  extending  Regulation  (EEC) No  338/91 

The Council  of the European  Union/ 

Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European  Community, 

Having  regard  to Council  Regulation  (EEC) 3013/89 of  25 September  1989, 
on the common  organisation  of  the market  in sheepmeat  and  goatmeat (1), 
as  last  amended  by  Regulation  (EC)  No  233/94  (2), and  in  particular 
Article  4  (2) thereof, 

Having  regard  to the proposal  from the Commission, 

Whereas  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  338/91  of  5  February  1991, 
determining  the  Community  standard  quality  of  fresh  or  chilled  sheep 
carcases  (3), as  last  amended  by  Regulation  (EEC)  2137/92  (4)  applies 
until  the  end  of  the  1993  marketing  year  pending  the  setting  up  of 
Community  carcase classification standards; 

sufficient 

Whereas 
carcase 
in 
classification  has  not  yet  been  made  to  permit  the  setting  up  of  the 
standards  in question  at  present; whereas  the  current  standard  quality 
should  be extended  until  the end  of  the  1997 marketing  year; 

application 

progress 

the 

of 

Whereas  the  Commission  report  on  the  application  of  Regulation  (EEC) 
2137/92  foreseen  for  not  later  than  31  December  1995  should  now  be 
foreseen  for  not  later  than  31 December  1996  and  should  be  accompanied 
by  a  proposal  for  a  new  definition  of  standard  quality  to  apply 
progressively  from  the  start  of  the  1998  marketing  year;  whereas  as  a 
consequence  the  objective  of  compulsory  application  of  the  Community 
scale  initially  foreseen  for  1996  at  the  earliest,  can  now  be  realized 
in  1999 at the earliest; 

Whereas, Annex  III of  Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92  should  be modified  to 
take account  of quality  requirements  in relation  to  fat class; 

(1) OJ No L 289, 07.10.1989, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L  30, 03.02.1994, p. 9. 
(3) OJ No L  41, 14.02.1991, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 214, 30.07.1992, p. 1. 

^ 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : 

Article 1 

The text  of the  second  paragraph  of Article  2 of  Regulation  (EEC) No 
338/91 is replaced by the following: 

"It shall apply for the marketing years  1991 to 1997 inclusive. 

Article 2 

Regulation  (EEC) No 2137/92 is hereby amended as follows: 

1)  Article 8 is repealed. 

2)  The text of Article 9 is amended as follows : 

In  the  first  subparagraph  "31  December  1995"  is  replaced  by 
"31 December 1996". 
In  the  second  subparagraph  the  "1996  marketing  year"  is 
replaced  by the  "1999 marketing  year" and  "1 January  1997" is 
replaced by "1 January 2000". 

3)  Annex III shall be replaced by the annex to this regulation. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 

This  Regulation  shall  be  binding  in  its  entirety  and  directly 
applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

It 

30.  7.  92 

journal  officiel  dc3  Communautés  européennes-

N" L  &>m-

ANNEXE 

Classement  des  carcasses  selon  l'article  3  paragraphe  3  troisième  alinéa 

Catégorie 

Poids 

Qualité 

A 

<  7  kg 

B 

C 

7,1  —  10  kg 

10,1  —  13 kg 

I 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

Couleur  de  la  viande 

rose 
clair 

couleur 
teneur  en 

autre 
ou 
graisse 

rose 
clair 

couleur 
teneur  en 

autre 
ou 
graisse 

rose 
clair 

autre  couleur ou 
teneur 
en  graisse 

Teneur  en  graisse  (*) 

(2)  (3) 

(2) (3) 

(2) (3) 

(')  Définie  à  l'annexe  II. 

/9 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(94) 108 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

03 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-127-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-67135-1 

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L-2985 Luxembourg 

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