CELEX: 51975PC0593
Language: en
Date: 1975-12-03
Title: Amended proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION laying down common standards for the water content of frozen and deepfrozen fowl carcases (submitted to the Council by the Commission pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 149 of the EEC Treaty)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 593
Vol. 1975/0222
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     COM(75)593 final
                                                     Brussels , 3 december 1975
                                 Amended proposal
                                       for a
                                COUNCIL REGULATION
                    laying down common standards for the water
                 content of frozen and deepfrozen fowl carcases
                 ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission
                   pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 149
                   of the EEC Treaty)
  COM(75 ) 593 final
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3 -
E^lanatory . nernorandum
The "dry" preparation of poultry is impossible in modern slaughterhouses and the
use of water at the various stages of treatment (plucking, evisceration and
cooling) means inevitably that some water penetrates the tissues and cavities of
the carcases .
In order to improve the quality of foodstuffs and to prevent distortions of compe­
tition within the European Economic Community, it is necessary to fix the maximum
quantities of extraneous water which may be absorbed by chilled and frozen poultry
carcases during preparation .
The scientific and technical documentation on the water content of frozen and deep-
frozen poultry carcases provides the following information :
1 . The deepfreezing, freezing and storage of carcases result in the dehydration of
     the product , which is detrimental to its organoleptic qualities . The introduce 3
     of water during preparation of tHe poultry thus constitutes an impco'vement in t/.
  .• quality of the product , provided . 'Viat the quantity added is not excessive . The
     desijied result is obtained by thi addition of . a quantity of water representing
     6 - 8 /' of the weight of the carcase .
2 . Poultry carcases normally contain a large proportion of physiological liquid
     largely composed of water . The proportion of this water to the weight of the
     carcase is not constant but varies largely according to the quantity of fat
     which the carcase contains , Puri"aer.no rc , it is impossible to make a chemical
     distinction between this physiological liquid and the extraneous water added
     intentionally or otherwise during preparation.
     Thase considerations made it necessary to carry out a study , in which research
     laboratories of all the Member States participated. The conclusions of this wor
     may be summarized as follows :
     ( .;) Laboratory experiments have shown, that about 60 "fo of the
           - c'at&r introduce od into th     carcase at the tina of preparation
           ic expelled at the moment of determining the water content by
           the drip method . This 'percentage includes a quaatitjr of
           physiological liquid .
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 4 -
( b ) The quantity of physiological water contained in the .
      eviscerated carcases of fowls treated "dry ", " with or
      without offal , frozen or deepfrozen , is constant in relation
      to the quantity of proteins of which the carcase is composed ,
( c ) In the eviscerated carcases of fowls treated according to ;
      present trade practices , the constant ratios indicated
      above are altered , and the difference thus ascertained permits
      the determination of the average quantity of extraneous water
      absorbed by the carcases during preparation .
It is therefore possible to determine with- accuracy whether the
quantity of foreign water absorbed by the carcase during preparation
exceeds the limit fixed by the Council ,     The Commission proposes
that the Council should adopt the annexed modified proposal which
is based on the results of research conducted by laboratories of
the Member States * This' modified proposition adapts the draft
regulation put before the Council on 4 February 1974 . These rules
could be applied , separately from the marketing standards , from
the 1 May 1976 .                                              '•
 ---pagebreak--- DG VI-C-3                                - 5 -
                                          . Draft
                            Amenc-ed proposal for a Council Ifegulation
                            Laying down common standards for the water       ;
                            content of frozen and deepfroaen fov/l car­
                                             cases
              ( submitted in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 149
                of the EEC Treaty)
  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROFEAH COMMETTIES ,
  Having regard to tho Treaty establishing the European Economic Community}
  Having regard to Council Regulation (pec) .MO 2777/75 ^of 1 November 1975 on the
  common organization of the market in poultrymeat . as last amended on .....
                                                                                  . and
  in particular Article 2         (2)thereof}
 Having regard to tho proposal from the Commission }
  IJhereas the marketing standards provided for in Article 2         (2)of Regulat ion
(-JJ..C) Ho 2777/7^^ >,e aided at improving the quality of products and hence promote
  sales } whereas , pending the adoption of more comprehensive Community rules in the
  matter , the maximum extraneous water content of ■frozen and deopfrosGn whole
  fovls should bo defined , since most of the products, marketed' in
  T.rhich water content in a significant factor would thus be covered ;
  Whereas a method of rapid detection Bhould be established for control purposes ,
  together with a reliable method for the precise determination of the content of
 water added during the preparation of the carcases } whereas no distinction should
 be made between physiological liquid and extraneous water from carcase preparation ,
  since such a distinction would present practical difficulties }
^ OJ Ho L 232, 1.11.1975, p. 77.                                                   /
 ---pagebreak---                                                             1
Uhereas..it is for each Member State to designate the agency or agencies
responsible for control and to r>rt?ccrib<s the T^T^ltieo for infr-ixi' -ononis { ι
Whereas provision should be made for the adoption of common rules in this
matter , notably with a view to ensuring that marketing standards are uniformly
applied ;
Whereas the provisions of this Regulation in no way prejudice; Community
provisions adopted with a view to harmonizing veterinary, and foodstuffs
legislation and to protecting human and animal health and preventing adulte­
ration and frauds
 ---pagebreak--- HAD ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                . Article 1 '
1 , Frozen or deepfrOzen fowls may be marketed by way of trade
      within the Community only if their extraneous water content
      absorbed during preparation is not more than 8 $ of the weight
      of the. carcase .
2 . "the term "marketing" comprises every kind of marketing, including
      in particular possession with a view to selling , putting up for
      sale , sale , delivery arid importation .
                                  Article 2
1 . Controls may be effected in respect of any quantity of fowls of
      not less than 1 000 kg in storage prior- to or during marketing ,
      and also upon - importation from third countries .
2 . The quantity to be controlled shall be devided into lots of
      from 1 000 kg ^o 5 000 kg .    A sample of twelve carcases, selected
      at random shall be taken from each lot .
      The. control may cover all or part of the lot made up . from the
      total quantity in storage .                         ,
                                  Article 3
1 . The carcases selected shall be given an identification marlc
      showing the' lot from which they were obtained and' shall , be
      dispatched for analysis in the manner appropriate to the state
 -. ..dn which they have been- -jput up for sale .
2; -The- extraneous water content shall be determined by the rapid
      detection method laid down in Annex I , •' • •   1    '        -
      If the limit laid down in paragraph 12 of Annex I is exceeded ,
 • an anlysis shall be made by the metiod laid down in Annex II .
      However , if there are grounds for supposing that use was made
      during preparation of absorbent substances which cause extraneous
      water to be retained in the carcase , determination of the water
      content need not be by the rapid detection method .
 ---pagebreak---       3 . If the result of the analysis reveals an extraneous water content of
          more than 8 $ of tho total weight of the carcases examined from one lot ,
          the holder may request that *a- cotai'lrerannlysxs be nadc- .
          In that event , the sample of carcases 'shall "be taken' from the lot in
          question in accordance with the foregoing provisions , '
      If under Article- 6 ( b ) one or more ait erna-tive, -methods of
      analysis are 'accepted , the co^mte^analysis,, shall be effected
    . by a method other than, that, used for the first analysis .
                                       Article 4
1 . If the result of the control reveals that a lot has an extraneous water
      content of more than 8 $ of the weight of the carcases , the lot in question
     may not be marketed in its existing state .
2 . The costs of control , and in particular . of the analyses , shall "be born©
     by the holder of the lot only if the control results in marketing being
     prohibited in accordance with paragraph 1 .
3» Member States shall take all steps necessary to penalize infringements of
     tho provisions of this Regulation.                                .
                                       Article 5
Member States and the Commission shall conduct regular exchanges of vrews *- -
concerning tho operation: of this Regulation , in particular under the procedure
provided for in Article 18 of Regulation (EEC ) HO . 2777/73.
If a lot from a Member State cannot be marketed following control carried out
in another Member State, the latter shall irimediatelyrso. inform the- firs ^
ilcrab^r State ,                                        ..
                                       Article . 6                 -            . „
                            . .    :   – "                             ' • (EEC ) No 2777/75
In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation
( a) technical adjustments may be made to the Annexes to take account of progress
made in methods of detection and analysis :          '
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 9 -
( b ) one or more methods of analysis alternative to those laid
      down in Annex II may "be accepted , provided that they offer
      equivalent guarantees .
( c ) implementing provisions for this Regulation may be adopted .
                               Article 7
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 May 1976 .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly
applicable in all Member States .
For the Council
                                                   The President
         \
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 10 -
                                    AK1TSX I
                                   Drip technique
                               Rapid detection method -
1 . Wipe the outside of the individual pack and weigh the bird in the pack .
2 . Remove the "bird from the pack and weigh the pack.
3 . Establish the basic weight , which is the difference between weights 1 and 2 .
4. Place the bird in a dry , waterproof plastic bag in such a way that the ab­
    dominal cavity is towards the closed end of the bag.
5 . Plunge the bag into a basin of water at a temperature of between 40 and
    45° C * Hold it in such a way that the knot closing the bag allows xn6 air
    to escape , taking care to ensure that water from the basin does not enter
    the bag and that the sides of the bag lie against the bird .
6 . The thawing time should be as follows , according to the size of the carcase :
               S00 g          65'
               900 g          72 »
             1 000 g          78'
             1 100 g          85'
             1 200 g          91 »
             1 300 g          98 »
             1 400 g         105'
    and thereafter increases of 7 * P er 100
7 . Empty the basin. Pierce the bottom of the bag to allow water produced by
    thawing to escape .
8 . Allow the bird to drain for one hour .
9 . Remove the bird from the bag and dry the carcase inside and out - with filter
    paper .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 11 -
10 . Weigh the bird to obtain the final weight .
11 * Express the difference between the final weight end the basic weight as a
       percentage of the basic weight# .- .
12 . If that percentage exceeds 5.6         "the carcr,ses selected should be analysed
       by one of the methods laid down in Annex IE. If the percentage is %6 "jo or
       less , the lot in question shall be considered as complying with the limits
 ♦  >■ set .
Ilotes ;
A « Where edible offal is included with the bird in the individual pack , the
    weight of such offal is added to the final weight of the carcase following
     thawing, evacuation of water and drying with filter paper .
B. The bag must meet the following specifications :
    « thickness :    0.05 nun
    - height : - for birds of a net weight of 1 250 g or less :
                  31 cm : circumference : 34 cm
                  for birds of a net weight of more than 1 250 g :
                  40 cm ; circumferenoe : 44 cm.
C. If the bircl is not in an individual pack, the test must establish that the
    basic weight corresponds to the weight of the bird.
                                                                                  /•
 ---pagebreak---                                      AENEX II
                                 Methods of analysis
The water content of cocks end hens or chickens may "be analysed by the following
method :
"Measurement of the water and proteins contained in whole carcases . 11
I , Measurement of the water and proteins contained in whole carcases
    In this method , the whole carcase , as put up for sale ( frozen or deepfrozen),
    is crushed .                                                           '■
    (a) Determinat ion of moisture
         This analysis is conducted in accordance with International Standard
         ISO 1442 - 1973 ( l ).
         The percentage of moisture obtained by this method is multiplied by the
         mass of each carcase from which the analysed samples were taken and the
         result obtained expresses in grams the quantity of water contained in
         each carcase .
    (b ) Determination of proteins
         The determination of proteins is effected by measuring the nitrogen as
         laid clown in ISO Recommendation R 937/1969 (l )«
         The percentage of protein obtained by this method is multiplied by the
         mass of each carcase from which the analysed samples were taken and the
         result obtained expresses in grams the quantity of proteins contained in
         each carcase .
Conclusion to bo drawn
If, for - all tho carcases analysed, the weight of water exceeds the following
values :
(1 ) In the version existing at entering into force of this regulation.
 ---pagebreak---       - in respect of chickens :             y « 3»82 x + 47|69 ( 2)
                               ~ * »' *" : , v" .*  ^
      - in respect of hcns and
        cooks :                                    »-, 3^T3 x + 4,62 ( 2)
the lot of carcases controlled contains more than B °/o of, extraneous water
and does not comply with the standards laid down in this Regulation# If the
lot of carcases    contains less than 8                    it shall be considered as complying
with the standards laid C.o\m in this Regulation.
( 2) y = weight of water in grains
     x  «= weight of proteins in grams .