CELEX: 51992PC0065
Language: en
Date: 1992-03-23
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) determining the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
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!-                                                C0M(92) 65 final
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S                                                  Brussels, 23 March 1992
                                 Proposal for a
                            COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
     determining the Community scale for the classification of carcases of
        ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of
                        fresh or chilled sheep carcases
                         (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 2 -
                                 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Council   Regulation     (EEC) No   338/91C) determining        the Community     standard
quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases applies for both the 1991 and 1992
marketing years.      During discussions at the Council on that regulation the
Commission    indicated    its intention of     introducing a carcase classification
scheme with a view to its eventual use for price reporting purposes.               Against
this background     the Council     limited   the application of       its regulation on
standard    quality    to   two  years.    The   Commission    has  now     completed  the
background work necessary prior to making a proposal with the aid notably of
a report prepared by an "ad hoc" group of the Sheep and Goat Consultative
Commi ttee.
The carcase classification grid now proposed            is based on five conformation
and five fat classes.       However, for animals lighter than 13 kg carcase weight
a classification grid based on these two characteristics does not describe
their   characteristics adequately.        Given   the   importance   of   these  carcases
notably   in Mediterranean member states, it is proposed that a second grid
encompassing weight, meat colour and fatness levels could be applied to them.
While   it is expected that the classification systems proposed will benefit
the entire sheep industry their principal use in a regulatory framework will
be in the area of price reporting.         The Commission proposes that the present
definition of standard quality be strengthened through the application to it
of standards contained within the classification system.             Thus carcases over
12 kg in weight and falling within conformation classes U R 0 and fat classes
2 and 3 wiI I be taken into account for price reporting purposes.              However, in
the   weight   range    12-13   kg,   for   Members    States   using    the   alternative
classification system the criteria to be taken             into account shall      be meat
colour and fat     level.    Carcases   in that weight range will be classified as
first and second quality for price reporting purposes.
(1) OJ No L 41, 14.2.1991, p. 1
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 3 -
The Commission  is aware that, given the importance of price reporting based
on live marketings of sheep in several Member States, it may not be possible
to switch over solely to sheep carcase based price reporting     in 1993.  In
these  circumstances,   the Commission  considers  it  necessary  that  price
reporting based on live animals be permitted to continue under conditions to
be determined (Management Committee) so as to achieve an equivalence with the
carcase classification grid.
 ---pagebreak---                                            4 -
                                    Proposal for a
                               COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
    determining the Community scale for the classification of carcases of
        ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of
                           fresh or chilled sheep carcases
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having   regard   to Council    Regulation  (EEC) No 3013/89^^        of  25  September
1989 on the common organization of the market        in the sheepmeat and goatmeat
sector,    as   last   amended   by   Regulation   (EEC)   No    1741/91(2*,    and   in
particular Article 4(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas a carcase classification standard is necessary in order to permit the
determination of a permanent standard quality;
Whereas    Council    Regulation    (EEC)   No   338/91<3>    of    5   February    1991
determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases
applied   for  the   1991 and   1992 marketing   years pending     the setting    up of
Community   carcase classification standards; whereas these standards should
now be set ;
(1) OJ No L 289, 7.10.1989, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 163, 26.6.1991, p. 41
(3) OJ No L 41, 14.2.1991, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 5 -
Whereas the classification must be made on the basis of conformation and the
degree of    fat cover; whereas the combination of these two criteria enables
carcases of ovine animals        to be divided    into classes;    whereas  classified
carcases must be identified;
Whereas, however, other criteria, in particular weight, meat colour, and fat
cover, may     be  used   for the   classification    of carcases of lambs less than
13 kg weight;     whereas Member    States wishing    to use   these  criteria   should
 inform the Commission and other Member States;
Whereas, in order to ensure the uniform application of this Regulation in the
Community,    provision   should  be made   for on-the-spot    checks by a   Community
 inspect ion group;
Whereas the definition of the Community standard quality should take account
of the carcase classification standards established in this Regulation,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
                                       Art icle 1
This regulation lays down Community classification scales for the carcases of
sheep.    It also determines the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled
sheep carcases.
                                       Art icle 2
For the purposes of carcase classification the following presentations shall
apply:
(a)    carcase:   the   whole  body   of  a  slaughter   animal   as  presented   after
       bleeding,    evisceration    and   skinning,    presented   without   the   head
       (severed at the atlanto-occipital joint),
       the feet (severed at the carpo-metacarpal or tarsometatarsal Joints),
       the tail (severed between the sixth and seventhcaudal vertebrae),
       the udder, the genetalia, the liver and the pluck.          Kidneys and kidney
       fat are included in the carcase.
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 6 -
(b)   half-carcase: the product obtained by separating the carcase referred
      to in (a) symmetrically through the middle of each cervical, dorsal,
       lumbar and sacral vertebra and though the middle of the sternum and the
       ischiopubic symphysis.
However,   Member   States   shall  be   authorized   according   to  the  procedure
provided for in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 to accept different
presentations when this reference presentation is not used.
In  such    instances,   the   adjustments    necessary   to  progress   from  those
presentations to the reference presentation shall be determined in accordance
with the same procedure.
                                      Art icle 3
1.    Carcases    of  ovine    animals   shall   be  divided   into  the   following
      categor ies:
           carcases of lamb under twelve months old,
           carcases of other sheep.
2.    The   carcases   of  ovine   animals   shall   be  classified  by   assessment
      respect ively of:
      (a) conformation,
      (b) fat cover,
      as identified in Annexes I and II, respectively.
      However, for lambs of less than 13 kg carcase weight, Member States may
      be authorized to use the following criteria for classification;
      (a) carcase weight
      (b) colour of meat
      (c) fat cover,
      as defined in Annex III.
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 7 -
      Member States which     intend to use this authorization shall so notify
       the Commission and the other Member States prior to 30 June 1992.
3.    Member   States shall    be authorized    to subdivide each of     the classes
      envisaged in Annexes I and II into a maximum of three sub-classes.
                                      Article 4
1.    Carcases or half-carcases shall be classified as soon as possible after
      slaughter    and   such   classification    shall  be  carried    out   in  the
      slaughterhouse itself.
2.    The   classified    carcases   or   half-carcases  shall  be    identified   by
      marking.
3.    The   detailed   rules  for   applying   this Article  shall   be   adopted  in
      accordance with     the   procedure   laid down in Article 30 of Regulation
      No 3013/89.
                                      Art icle 5
On-the-spot   inspection shall be carried out by a Community       inspection group
composed of experts from the Commission and experts appointed by the Member
States.   This group shall    report back to the Commission on checks carried
out.
The Commission shall, if appropriate, take the measures necessary to ensure
that the classification is carried out in a uniform manner.
The inspections    shall be carried out on behalf of the Community, which shall
bear the resulting costs.
The detailed rules for applying this Article shall be adopted          in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation No 3013/89.
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 8 -
                                      Art icle 6
Additional    provisions    specifying     the   definition   of    the   classes   of
conformation, fat cover, carcase weight and colour of meat shall be adopted
 in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC)
No 3013/89 before 31 October 1992.
                                      Art icle 7
1.     The Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases shall
       be lamb of less than one year old at slaughter with a carcase weight or
       estimated   carcase weight   of at     least 12 kg and    falling within    the
       following classification standards; conformation classes (U, R, 0) and
       fat classes (2 and 3) as defined         in Annexes   I and   II respectively.
       However, for    lamb carcases   in the weight    range 12 - 13.0 kg, where
       Member States have been authorized to use the classification criteria
       laid down   in the second sentence of Article 3(2), the classification
       standards   shall  be meat   colour   (clear  pink, other    colour)   and  fat
       level (2 and 3) as defined in Annexes II and III.
2.     Member  States, where    first marketings on      live markets   represent   at
       least 20% of total transactions between producers and operators, may be
       authorised   to report   prices   for   live animals on   the   representative
       markets.   Provisions    specifying     the   definition    of    live   animal
       equivalents of carcases of animals of standard quality shall be adopted
       in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation
       (EEC) No 3019/89 before 31 October 1992.
                                      Art icle 8
This Regulation shall enter     into force on the seventh day following that of
its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply from the 1993 marketing year.
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 9 -
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
a I I Member States.
Done at Brussels,                                    For the Council
                                                      The President
 ---pagebreak---                                                           ANNEX 1
Development of carcase profiles, in particular the essential parts (hindquarter, back, shoulder)
Conformation class    |                                  Description
E                             All profiles convex to superconvex;     exceptional muscle development
excellent
U                             Profiles on the Trôiole convex;  very good muscle development
very good
R                             Profiles on the Tflhole straight;   good muscle development
good
                                                                                                     o
                                                                                                      i
0                             Profiles straight to concave;     average muscle development
fair
P                             Profiles concave to very concave;     poor muscle development
poor
 ---pagebreak---                                                      ANNEX II
                                               DBGREE OF FAT (PVER
                      Anount of fat on the outside of the carcase and in the thoracic cavity
   Class of fat cover                                Description
1                          None up to low fat cover
low
2                          Slight fat cover, flesh visible almost everywhere
slight
3                          Flesh, with exception of the hindquarter and shoulder, almost everywhere
average                    covered with fat, slight deposits of fat in the thoracic cavity
4                          Flesh covered with fat, but on the hindquarter and shoulder still partly
high                       visible, some distinctive fat deposits in the thoracic cavity
5                          Carcase thickly covered with fat; heavy fat deposits in the thoracic cavity
very high
 ---pagebreak---                                                               ANNEX    III
                               Carcase classification grid under Article 3(2) second sentence
                       •                        *                                                 :
    CA3H3CKY                        A                        B                         C
                                                                                                  •
    TOight             •       < 7 kg           •    7 . 1 - 10 kg         -   10.1 -    13 kg    :
    Quality            •   1st     !     2nd    :    1st     !     2nd     :   1st     !    2nd   •
    Meat Colour            clear    ! other       clear      S other          clear    S other
                           pink     ! colour or   pink       ! colour or      pink     ! colour or
                                    ; other                  ; other                   ! other
    Fat class   (*)      (2)   (3) Jfat level     (2) (3) Ifat level         (2)   (3) !fat level
(*) As defined in Annex II.
                                                                                                    no
                                                                                                     i
 ---pagebreak---                                                         - 13 -
    FINANCIAL                       STATEMENT
                                                                     DATE: 31.1.1992
1. BUDGET HEADING: Article 222                                       APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 1 778 MILLION
2. TITLE:
   Proposal for a Regulation establishing the classification scale for the carcases of sheep and the
   standard quality for fresh or chiI led carcases
3. LEGAL BASIS:
   Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89
4. AIMS OF PROJECT:
   To implement a classification scale with effect frcm the 1993 marketing year to establish the market
   price of fresh or chi I led sheep carcases, in view of the fact that Regulation (EEC) No 338/91
   determining the standard qua I ity of sheep carcases expires at the end of the 1992 marketing year
                                   Period of 12 months   Current Financial Year   Following Financial Year
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS                                        1992                       1993
5.0 EXPENDITURE
    - CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET
    - (REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)             p.m.                                               p.m.
    - NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
    - OTHER
5.1 REVENUE
    - OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC
       (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
    -NATIONAL
                                         1994                1995                1996              1997
5.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE              p.m.                p.m.                p.m.              p.m.
5.1.1 ESTIMATED REVENUE
5.2 k/ETHOD OF CALCULATION:
6.0 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FRCM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
6.1 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
6.2 IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY?
6.3 WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY?
OBSERVATIONS:
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                                                               COM (92) 65 final
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                                                             ISBN 92-77-41673-4
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