CELEX: 51994PC0108
Language: en
Date: 1994-04-13
Title: 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

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)
 ---pagebreak--- 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
 ---pagebreak---                                 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
   recorded without difficulty.     Member States, for the most part,
   have   expressed    satisfaction   with  the   present   definition.
   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.
 ---pagebreak--- 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
 ---pagebreak---    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.
 ---pagebreak--- 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.
 ---pagebreak---              Prix sur les marches comr nauiaires                  ŒCU/'Wg)           r\ A7V'ZT-A /
 ou ins abattus - geschlachtete laemmer - slaughtered lambs
 Prix ECU                                                                                   H — » • United Kingdom
                                                                                            *—* Portugal
                                                                                            *- -* Nederland
   500,00 J
                                                                                            Q - - s Italia
                                                                                            *--* Ireland
                                                                                            * — A France
   450.00 J                                                                                 •*--+v Espana
                                                                                            H
                                                                                              — Elias
                                                                                            &--* BR Deutschland
   400.00 J
                                                                                            B - -s Danmark
                                                                                            Q — B Belgique/Belgie
                                                                                                    Moyenne pondérée CE.
   350.00 J
  300.00 J
  250.00 J
  200.00
             i—-—i——i             1 i    i     1       r~   1    1     1    1—   1     r~                              \
            1980    1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 198S     1987 1988 1989 1990' 1991 1992    1993
                                               RNMEES
Produced by Dg vl a/4    20.01,94
PMOvIRN/OvIRM
 ---pagebreak---  ANNEXE 2 /  ANNEX  2  / ANHANG 2
       VIANDE OVINE
PRIX GRILLE "SEUROP"
6-RID PRICES ''SfVRPP'
            1 9    9 3
                    ~v
 ---pagebreak--- VI-D2                                                                                                                            01.62.94
                                                             V I A N D E      O V I N E -     SHEEPMEAT      -  SCHAFFFLEISCH    LEB/
                                                                  GRANOE-BRETAGNE      - GREAT B R I T A I N -   GROSS BRETANIEN
1. PRIX  en Ecu/tookg   se ton La g r i l l e -  P r i c e s i n ECU/100 kg based on g r i d - P r e i s e            i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP
             Janvier  Février  Mars      Avril        Mai       Juin     Juillet      Août   Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre  1993
 E 1
    2
    3                                        291         295        265       230        216       193      192     195      220     233
    4                                        292          244       217        181       172       149      160     164      197     197
    5
 U 1
     2                                       277          270       265        235       221       197      183     207      219      230
    3                                         293         289       262        227       212       193      194     209      215     233
    4                                         271         264       231        196        182      163      164     170      189     203
     5                                        250         256       191        146        145      137      134     145      175     176
 R 1
     2                                       279          279       257        227       207       191      190     212      211     228
     3                                        284         286       258        224       206       190      189     199      213      228
     4                                        266         267       232        203        185      168      168     174      191     206
     5                                        259         244       211        154        155      142      141     164      170     182
 0 1
    2                                        262          266       244        215       187       179      176     191      205     214
    3                                        275          265       248        222       200       185      183     190      207     220
    4
    5
 P 1
    2
    3
    4
    5
2 . P r i x e n ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e    qualité'     type ) - ^ P r e s e n t  Standard Q u a l t i y )  -(Aktuelle    Standardqualitat ]
              201,0-   229,7   264,8      303,8      299,3       259,5       221,5       206,0      187,5     185,9  196,4    215,5    230,9
 ---pagebreak--- V1 D2
   -                                                         V I A N D E      O V I N E    " SHEEPMEAT - SCHAFFLEISCH               °IIB°/2'^
                                                                 IRLANDE   ou NORD   - Northern I r e l a n d -     Nordirland
1.   PRIX en Ecu/iookg se Ion la g r i l l e - P r i c e s i n ECU/100 kg based on g r i d - P r e i s e             i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP-System
              Janvier  Février Mars        Avril     Mai        Juin      Juillet    Août    Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre  1993
 E 1
      3                                        295      283         256       223       212       183      183      198      225      229
      4                                        266      250         285                           183      160      179               221
      5
 U
      J                                       301       290         260       221       212       192      190      207      221      233
      3                                        298       287        266       218        211       189     187      203      216      231
      4                                        265       262        240        193       189       172      171      184      197      208
      5                                        254       226        206        158       149       138      143      153      168      177
  R
      2                                        283      290         266       221        213       190      191     207      221      231
      3                                        284       288        268        199       212       188      187     204       218      228
      4                                        259       261        243        197       188       170      169      185      198      208
      5                                        250       224        214        162       156       141      150      160      172      181
  °   2                                        152      236         206       170        159      143      149      167      180      174
      3                                        253       260        247        196       188       168      173      190      204      209
      4
      5
  P 1
      2
      3
      4
      5
 2 . PRIX en ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e        qualité     type)      -   (Present Standard Q u a l i t y )       -   (Aktuelle    Standardqualitat)
               173,3     197,9   233,3       266,3     277,6       244,2       204,6     193,3     175,8    171,4   185,7    200,8     210,4
 ---pagebreak--- VI -02                                                                                                                              01.02.94
                                                            V I A N D E     O V I N E - SHEEPMEAT     -  SCHAFFLEISCH               LEB/
                                                                      ALLEMAGNE   -  GERMANY   -  DEUTSCHLAND
1.  PRIX en Ecu/iookg se Ion l a g r i l l e - P r i c e s i n ECU/100 kg based on g r i d - P r e i s e            i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP-System
             Janvier  Février  Mars        Avril     Mai       Juin     Juillet   Août  Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre 1993
 E   1                                                                                                            235          239     237
     2
     3                                                                                                             213         207     210
     4
     5
 U 1
     2                                                                                                             232         235     233
     3                                                                                                             218         223     220
     4                                                                                                             238         247     242
     5                                                                                                             238         248     243
 R   1                                                                                                             246                 246
     2                                                                                                             242         248     245
     3                                                                                                             225         239     232
     A                                                                                                             233         252     243
     5                                                                                                             234         254     244
  0   1                                                                                                            237         247     242
     2                                                                                                             236         247     242
     3                                                                                                             232         246     239
     4                                                                                                             234         252     243
     5                                                                                                             232         255     244
 P   1                                                                                                             237         246     242
     2                                                                                                             231         240     235
     3                                                                                                             228         245     237
     4                                                                                                             236         238     237
     5
2.    PRIX e n ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e      qualité' type) - ( P r e s e n t Standard Q u a l i t y ) - ( A k t u e l l e  Standardqualitat)
              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
 ---pagebreak--- WI-D2                                                                                                     .                     01.02.94
, I D
         .                                                   v i ANDE        o v i N E - SHEEPMEAT 6 SCHAFFLEISCH              LEB /
                                                                         DANMARK  - DENMARK       - DfiNEMARKEN
1.   PRIX  en Ecu/iookg se Ion la g r i l l e - P r i c e s  i n ECU/100 kg based on g r i d - P r e i s e i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP-System
               Janvier  Février Mars        Avril     Mai        Juin    Juillet   Août    Septembre Octobre Novembre Décembre   1993
  E 1
      2
      3
      4
      5
  U 1
      2
      3
      4
      5
  R 1
      2                            257         257       257        243      223      202       195      207       210     217       227
      3                            257         257       257        243      223      202       195      207       210     217       227
      4                            235         235       235        221      201      181       173      185       189     195       205
      5
  0     1 .
      2                            206         206       206        193      174      154       149      172       175     182       182
      3                            206         206       206         193     174      154       149      172       175     182       182
      4
      5
   P 1
       2                           134         134       134         120     102        83       79      102       105     112       110
      3
      4
      5
    2 . PRIX en ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e q u a l i t é      type) -     (Present Standard Q u a l i t y )    -   (Aktuelle     Standardqualitat)
                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
 ---pagebreak--- VI-D2                                                                                                                        01.02.9A
                                                          V I A N D E     O V I N E "  SHEEPMEAT     -   SCHAFFLEISCH        LEB/
                                                                       FRANCE  "" France     -  Frankreich
1.  PRIX en Ecu/iookg seLon La griLte_i__P_ri ces i n ECU/100 kg based on g r i d - P r e i s e i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP-System
             Janvier Fevrier  Mars     Avri I   Mai          Juin     Juillet   Aout   Septembre Octobre Novembre Decembre    1993
 E 1                                                                      213      198      197                                   203
     2                           378      A00         A01       378       351      341      335      326        317     343       357
     3                           371      397         393       374       339      328      323      302        296    320        344
     A                           279      316        302         291      26A      262      213      187        182     205       250
     5                           261      297         280        270      241      240      20A      175        16A     192       232
 U 1                                                                      213      209      225                                   216
     2                           352      376         372        363      339      323      326      324        324     319       342
     3                           3A7      366         371        355      338      316      319      309        310     315       335
     4                           259      296         292        277      259      232      241      218        212     206       249
     5                           2A0.     280         275        257      242      232      231      191        152     180       228
 R 1                                      294         298        298      264      207      218                                   263
     2                           32A      352         357        336      317      298      293      286        287     298       315
     3                           320      351         3A3        330      316      297      295      283        282     290       311
     A                           230      268         275        260      248      227      226      202        199     202       234
     5                           205      2A6         250        231      221      215      216      175        127     155       204
 0 1                                      270         274                 235      202      187      226        225     226       231
     2                           269      301         297        274      259      253      249      224        233     244       260
     3                           276      301         306        293      269      262      256      240        237     248       269
     A                           195      2A1         259        239      223      201      194      173        173     180       208
     5                           177      216         A07        199      188      180      184      143        102     129       193
 P 1                                      258         262                 213      198      197                                   225
     2                           196      287         269        2A7      230      221      229      235        235     200       235
     3                           215      292         28A        276      2A3      231      230      235        235     200       2AA
     A                           151      2A1         235        223      202      183      201      211        218     192       206
     5                           126                             183      167      1A2      184      222                          171
 2 . PRIX en ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e q u a l i t e * t y p e )  - (Present      Standard Q u a l i t y ) -   (AktueLle    StandardquaLitat)
             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
 ---pagebreak--- VI-02
                                                          VIANDE         O V I N E -  SHEEPMEAT -       SCHAFFLEISCH
                                                                     GRECE -     GREECE    - GRIECHENLAND
1.  PRIX en Ecu/iookg se Ion l a g r i l l e   -   Prices  i n ECU/100 kg based on G r i d -           Preise       i n ECU/100 kg nach SEUROP-System
Semaine n°    40       41       42          43      44       45       46        47      48    49             50         51    52
                                                    420.0    356.1    334.8     319.6         319.6          368.3      334.8  304.4
                                                    420.0    356.1    334.8     319.6         319.6          368.3      334.8  304.4
                                                    392.6    350.0    325,      310.4         312.0          362.2      325.7  298.3
                                                    392.6    350.0    325       310.4         312.0          362.2      325.7  298.3
                                                    366.7    325.7    319.6     304.4         304.4          356.1      319.6  292.2
                                                                      319.6
 2 . PRIX e n ECU/100 kg ( a c t u e l l e       qualité  type)    -   (Present     Standard Q u a l i t y )   -   (Aktuelle    Standardqualitat)
               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
 ---pagebreak---                                  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
 ---pagebreak--- 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
    Three to six volunteer slaughterhouses in Great Britain.
    Two    volunteer   slaughterhouses   in  Northern   Ireland.   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)
    2. lack of cooperation between slaughterhouses and the Ministry
         mainly for commercial reasons.
    20% direct sales by producer to slaughterhouse.
                                   J<
 ---pagebreak--- 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           7%
         offal         10%
         genital organs 0.2%
         TOTAL         17.2%
    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
 ---pagebreak---                                   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;
Whereas    sufficient   progress     in    the application  of   carcase
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;
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.
                                      ^
 ---pagebreak--- 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
 ---pagebreak--- 30. 7. 92                               journal officiel dc3 Communautés européennes-                             N" L &>m-
                                                          ANNEXE
                           Classement des carcasses selon l'article 3 paragraphe 3 troisième alinéa
            Catégorie                       A                                B                               C
Poids                                     < 7 kg                        7,1 — 10 kg                    10,1 — 13 kg
Qualité                               I                2              1                2             1                2
Couleur de la viande          rose             autre couleur  rose             autre couleur rose              autre couleur ou
                              clair            ou teneur en   clair            ou teneur en  clair             teneur
                                               graisse                         graisse                         en graisse
Teneur en graisse (*)             (2) (3)                         (2) (3)                    (2) (3)
(') Définie à l'annexe II.
                                                                   /9
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     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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