Council Regulation (EC) No 700/2007 of 11 June 2007 on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less
Date: 2007-06-11
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: approximation of laws, beef, labelling, marketing, product designation

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(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory)

I

REGULATIONS

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 700/2007

of 11 June 2007

on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community, and in particular Article 37(2) thereof,

establishing the European

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The second subparagraph of Article 2,
in conjunction
with point (b) of the first subparagraph of that Article,
of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May
1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef
and veal (1) provides that the Council is to adopt general
rules concerning measures to promote better organi-
sation of production, processing and marketing.

The systems of production of bovine animals aged 12
months or less and their characteristics at the time of
slaughter often differ from one Member State to another.
On the main consumer markets in the Community, meat
from these different production systems is generally
marketed under one single sales description.

Experience shows that this practice could disturb trade
and encourage unfair competition. Consequently, it has a
direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the
internal market.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

This practice could also cause confusion for consumers
and is likely to mislead them.

To improve the functioning of the internal market, the
marketing of
the meat of bovine animals aged 12
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
to be used in each
purpose,
language of
the Member States for the marketing of
the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less
should be specified. This will also improve information
for consumers.

the sales descriptions

In certain cases, the meat of bovine animals aged 12
months or less enjoys protection under Council Regu-
lation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the
protection of geographical
indications and designations
of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2). In
those cases it is marketed under the protected indication
or designation and, as a result, can be precisely identified
by operators and consumers. Accordingly,
this Regu-
lation should not affect those protected indications and
designations.

Various studies have shown that the organoleptic char-
flavour and
acteristics of meat,
colour, change with the age of the animals from which
it is obtained and the feed used.

tenderness,

such as

According to a public consultation organised by the
Commission in 2005, for a majority of consumers the
age of the animals and what they have been fed on are
important criteria in determining the characteristics of
their meat. On the other hand,
the
the weight of
animals on slaughter appears to be less important.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Regulation as amended by Regulation

lation (EC) No 1913/2005 (OJ L 307, 25.11.2005, p. 2).

(EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).

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(9)

The systems of production and the type of feed used for
animals aged 12 months or less are linked to the age at
which the animals go to slaughter. It is easier to monitor
age on slaughter than the type of
feed used. Conse-
quently, the use of different sales descriptions according
to the age of the animals should be sufficient to provide
the necessary transparency.

apply the recording system referred to in Article 1 of
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1825/2000 of 25
August 2000 laying down detailed rules for the appli-
cation of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of
the
European Parliament and of the Council as regards the
labelling of beef and beef products (3),
to
necessary adaptations.

subject

(10) According to the same consultation, most consumers
consider that animals aged eight months or less belong
in a category of their own. That age limit is also used in
Article 130 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of
29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct
support schemes under the common agricultural policy
and establishing certain support schemes for farmers (1)
to determine the eligibility of animals for the slaughter
premium. Therefore, that age limit should be used to
divide the category of animals aged 12 months or less
into two sub-categories.

(15)

(16)

The Member States
should designate the authorities
competent to carry out checks relating to the conditions
laid down in this Regulation and provision should be
made for the Commission to ensure, where necessary
by means of on-the-spot checks, that those conditions
are met.

For the sake of consistency, provision should be made to
ensure that meat imported from third countries meets
the requirements of this Regulation. For that purpose,
where checks are carried out by an independent third-
party body, that body must provide full assurance of
expertise, impartiality and objectivity.

(11)

The consultation also showed that, depending on the
Member State, consumer expectations of the same sales
description can differ. Therefore, when selecting sales
it makes sense to take account as far as
descriptions,
possible of customs and cultural
to help
consumers make a choice in line with their expectations.

traditions

(17) Member States

should lay down rules on penalties
this
applicable to infringements of
Regulation and ensure
implemented.
that
Those penalties should be effective, proportionate and
dissuasive.

the provisions of
they are

(12)

Provision should also be made for the meat of bovine
animals aged 12 months or less to be identified by a
letter representing the category to which they belong.

(18)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
adopted in accordance with
Regulation should be
Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying
down the procedures for the exercise of implementing
powers conferred on the Commission (4),

(13) Operators wishing to supplement the sales descriptions
provided for in this Regulation by other voluntary infor-
mation should be able to do so in accordance with the
procedure provided for in Articles 16 or 17 of Regu-
lation (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 (2).

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Purpose and scope

This Regulation lays down the

the
1.
marketing in the Community of the meat of bovine animals
aged 12 months or less, in particular the sales descriptions to be
used.

conditions

for

(14)

To ensure correct use of the information on the labelling
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
it should be possible to
and marketing. To this end,

It shall apply to the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or
less slaughtered after 1 July 2008, whether produced in the
Community or imported from third countries.

(1) OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No 552/2007 (OJ L 131, 23.5.2007,
p. 10).

(2) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1791/2006.

(3) OJ L 216, 26.8.2000, p. 8. Regulation as amended by Regulation

(EC) No 275/2007 (OJ L 76, 16.3.2007, p. 12).

(4) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision

2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

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This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to Council
2.
Regulation (EC) No 1183/2006 of 24 July 2006 concerning the
Community scale for the classification of carcasses of adult
bovine animals (1).

3.
This Regulation shall not apply to the meat of bovine
animals for which a protected designation of origin or geogra-
phical indication has been registered in accordance with Regu-
lation (EC) No 510/2006, before 29 June 2007.

Article 2

Definition

‘meat’ means all carcases,
For the purposes of this Regulation,
meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut,
intended for human consumption, obtained from bovine
animals aged 12 months or less, presented fresh, frozen or
deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed.

Article 5

Compulsory information on the label

1. Without prejudice to Article 3(1) of Directive 2000/13/EC
and Articles 13, 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000,
at each stage of production and marketing, operators shall label
the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less with the
following information:

(a)

the age of the animals on slaughter, indicated, as the case
may be, on the form ‘age on slaughter: up to 8 months’ in
the case of animals aged 8 months or less, or ‘age on
slaughter: from 8 to 12 months’
in the case of animals
aged more than 8 months but not more than 12 months;

Article 3

Regulation.

(b) the sales description in accordance with Article 4 of this

Classification of bovine animals at the slaughterhouse

On slaughter, all bovine animals aged 12 months or less shall
be classified by the operators, under the supervision of the
competent authority referred to in Article 8(1), in one of the
categories listed in Annex I.

Article 4

Sales descriptions

The sale description is the name under which a foodstuff
1.
is
sold, within the meaning of Article 5(1) of Directive
2000/13/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and adver-
tising of foodstuffs (2).

The meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less shall only
be marketed in the Member States under the sales description(s)
listed in Annex II laid down for each Member State.

The sales descriptions referred to in the first subparagraph may
be supplemented by an indication of the name or designation of
the pieces of meat or offal concerned.

2.
The sales descriptions listed in Annex II, Part A and any
new name derived from those sales descriptions shall only be
used if all the requirements of this Regulation are met.

In particular, the terms ‘veau’,
‘ternera’,
‘kalv’, ‘veal’, ‘vitello’, ‘vitella’, ‘kalf’, ‘vitela’ and ‘teletina’ shall not
be used in a sales description or be indicated on the labelling of
the meat of bovine animals aged more than 12 months.

‘μοσχάρι’,

‘telecí’,

‘Kalb’,

(1) OJ L 214, 4.8.2006, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29.

However, by way of derogation from subparagraph (a),
operators may, at each stage of production and marketing,
except the release to the final consumer, replace the age on
slaughter by the category identification letter as defined in
Annex I to this Regulation.

In the case of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months
2.
or less presented for sale un-prepacked at the point of retail sale
to the final consumer, Member States shall lay down rules on
how the information referred to in paragraph 1 is to be
indicated.

Article 6

Optional information on the label

Operators may supplement the compulsory information referred
to in Article 5 by optional information approved in accordance
with the procedure provided for in Articles 16 or 17 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1760/2000.

Article 7

Recording

At each stage of production and marketing of the meat of
bovine animals aged 12 months or less, operators shall,
in
labelling information
order
referred to in Articles 5 and 6,
the
following information:

to guarantee the accuracy of

record in particular

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(a) an indication of the identification number and the date of

birth of the animals, at slaughterhouse level only;

(b) an indication of a reference number making it possible to
establish a link between, on the one hand, the identification
of the animals from which the meat originates and, on the
other hand, the sales description, the age on slaughter and
the category identification letter given on the meat label;

Operators from a third country wishing to place on the
2.
Community market meat as referred to in paragraph 1 shall
subject
their activities to checks by a competent authority
designated by that third country or, failing that, an independent
third-party body. The independent body shall provide full
assurance of compliance with the conditions laid down in
European Standard EN 45011 or ISO/IEC Guide 65 (‘General
requirements
certification
systems’).

operating

product

bodies

for

(c) an indication of the date of arrival and departure of the
animals and meat in the establishment, to ensure that a
correlation between arrivals and departures is established.

The designated competent authority or, where applicable, the
independent third-party body shall ensure that the requirements
of this Regulation are met.

Article 8

Official checks

Before 1 July 2008 Member States shall designate the
1.
responsible for official
competent authority or authorities
checks performed to verify the application of this Regulation
and inform the Commission thereof.

2.
Official checks shall be carried out by the competent
authority or authorities in accordance with the general prin-
ciples
laid down in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of
European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on
official
the verification of
compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal
welfare rules (1).

controls performed to ensure

3.
The Commission shall, jointly with the competent autho-
rities, ensure that Member States are complying with the
provisions of this Regulation.

The Commission's experts shall carry out, where required,
jointly with the competent authorities concerned, and where
applicable, the Member States' experts, on the spot checks to
ensure that this Regulation is being implemented.

Any Member State on whose territory checks are carried out
shall provide the Commission with all necessary assistance
which it may require for the accomplishment of its tasks.

Article 9

Meat imported from third countries

The meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less
shall be marketed in the

1.
imported from third countries
Community in accordance with this Regulation.

Article 10

Penalties

Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable
to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall
take all measures necessary to ensure that
they are imple-
mented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, propor-
tionate and dissuasive. The Member States shall notify the
provisions on the penalties to the Commission by 1 July
2009 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of any
subsequent amendment affecting them.

Article 11

Implementing measures

1.
The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 12(2). Such measures shall relate,
in
particular, to:

(a)

the practical method of indicating the category identification
letter as defined in Annex I, as regards the location and size
of the characters used;

(b) the import of meat from third countries as referred to in
Article 9, as regards the method of verifying compliance
with this Regulation.

(1) OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1, corrected by OJ L 191, 28.5.2004, p. 1.

Annex II, Part B may be amended in accordance with the

2.
procedure referred to in Article 12(2).

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Article 12

Committee

Article 14

Entry into force

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Management
Committee for Beef and Veal established in Article 42 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1254/1999.

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

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

It shall apply from 1 July 2008.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at one month.

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

Article 13

Transitional measures

The meat from animals aged 12 months or less and slaughtered
before 1 July 2008 may continue to be marketed without
meeting the requirements of this Regulation.

Done at Luxembourg, 11 June 2007.

For the Council
The President

H. SEEHOFER

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ANNEX I

Categories of bovine animals aged 12 months or less

On slaughter, bovine animals aged 12 months or less must be classified in one of the following two categories:

(A) Category V: bovine animals aged 8 months or less

Category identification letter: V;

(B) Category Z: bovine animals aged more than 8 months but not more than 12 months

Category identification letter: Z.

In the Member States, this classification must be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the passport
accompanying the bovine animals or, failing this, on the basis of the data contained in the computerised database
provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

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ANNEX II

List of sales descriptions referred to in Article 4

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

Country of marketing

Sales descriptions to be used

Belgium

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Cyprus

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

veau, viande de veau / kalfsvlees / Kalbfleisch

месо от малки телета

telecí

lyst kalvekød

Kalbfleisch

vasikaliha

μοσχάρι γάλακτος

ternera blanca, carne de ternera blanca

veau, viande de veau

veal

vitello, carne di vitello

μοσχάρι γάλακτος

teļa gaļa

veršiena

veau, viande de veau / Kalbfleisch

borjúhús

vitella

kalfsvlees

Kalbfleisch

cielęcina

vitela

carne de vițel

teletina

teľacie mäso

vaalea vasikanliha / ljust kalvkött

ljust kalvkött

veal

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

Country of marketing

Sales descriptions to be used

Belgium

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Cyprus

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

jeune bovin, viande de jeune bovin / jongrundvlees / Jungrindfleisch

телешко месо

hovězí maso z mladého skotu

kalvekød

Jungrindfleisch

noorloomaliha

νεαρό μοσχάρι

ternera, carne de ternera

jeune bovin, viande de jeune bovin

rosé Veal

vitellone, carne di vitellone

νεαρό μοσχάρι

jaunlopa gaļa

jautiena

jeune bovin, viande de jeune bovin / Jungrindfleisch

növendék marha húsa

vitellun

rosé kalfsvlees

Jungrindfleisch

młoda wołowina

vitelão

carne de tineret bovin

meso težjih telet

mäso z mladého dobytka

vasikanliha / kalvkött

kalvkött

beef