CELEX: 51974PC0079
Language: en
Date: 1974-01-30
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION (EEC) OF THE COUNCIL laying down Commission standards for the moisture content of certain fowl carcases

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (74) 79
Vol. 1974/0015
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION QJ? THE
                                                       COM(74)79 Final
                                                      Brussels , 30 January 1974
                                 PROPOSAL FOR A
                       REGULATION (EEC) OP THE COUNCIL
               laying down Commission standards for the moisture
                       content of certain fowl carcases
                 ( submitted to the Council "by the Comraission)
  COi:(74) 79 Final .
 ---pagebreak--- DG VI/C-3                                                    3936/VI/73 rev,l-E
                                                             Orig . : F
                                 Explanatory Statement
        In the course of examining the proposed. Council regulation concerning
certain marketing standards applicable in the sector of poultrymeat
( doc . R/1504/7I (AGRI 50l ) )» it lias become apparent that a new problem should
be tackled without delay , that of the water content of prime quality fowls .
        The proposed regulation attached determines the standards for water
content and fixes a method of evaluating this amount .      This regulation could
be applied in isolation if the examination of marketing standards were to
follow several months later .     This possibility leads to the proposal of a
date , which could be 1st llay 1974 *
 ---pagebreak--- DG VI/C-3                                                          3936/VI/73-rev . 1 E
                                                                   Orig . : F
                               '       Proposal of
                 REGULATION ( EEC )                OP THE COUNCIL
            layiiig down common standards for the moisture content
                           of certain fowl carcases .
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ;
Having regard to Council Regulation No 123/67/EEC ^ of 13 June 1967 on the
common organization of the market in poultrymeat , as last amended "by the
     2
Act    concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the
Treaties , and in particular Article 2 ( 2 ) thereof ;
Having regard to the proposal from the "Commission ;
Whereas the marketing standards referred to in Article 2 ( 2 ) of Regulation
No 123/67/EEC should serve to improve product quality and hence promote
marketing ; whereas , pending the adoption of more comprehensive Community
rules in the matter , the maximum moisture content of top quality chilled and
frozen fowls should be defined , since the : vast bulk of marketed products for
which moisture content is a significant factor would thus be covered ;
Whereas a method of determining moisture content must be defined ; whereas no
distinction should be made between physiological liquid and foreign water
from carcase preparation , given the practical difficulties which would be .
met with such a distinction ;                           .. .. 1 . . .
Whereas, it is for each Member State to designate the agency or agencies respon­
sible; for control and to penalize infringements ;
Whereas provision should be made for the possibility of adopting common rules
in this matter , notably with a" view to ensuring that marketing standards are
uniformly applied ;                      >, . /■
   OJ No   117 , 19.6.1967 , p 2301/67 - -                   • -
   OJ No L  73 , 27.3.1972 , p    14 *           :
 ---pagebreak---                                              2 »                3^/Υι/ '1>-Γ^. 1 Ε
Whereas the provisions of this Regulation in no way prejudice Community
provisions adopted, to harmonize veterinary and food legislation and with
a view to protecting animal and hmnail health and preventing adulteration and
fraud :
HA3 ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                       Article 1
1 . Fowls , chilled or frozen , shall not be marketed within the Community ,
      belonging to the commercial category corresponding to superior hereafter
      called " superior category" by way of business or trade unless they satisfy
      the provisions of this Regulation .
2 . "Marketing" means holding or displaying for sale , offering for sale , selling ,
      delivering or any other form of marketing .       1
                                       Article 2
1 » The moisture content of superior category fowl , shall be 8 > or less by
      net weight of product .
      Moisture content is determined by the method described in the Annex .
2 . At least once every., two years , the Commission examine the need to retain
      or alter the manHrmim authorizedjnoisture content and the method of
      determination .
                                       Article 3
1 . Compliance with the provisions of this Regulation shall be controlled by
  ■ - agaaoioB docigjnjvtsd. 'by -ocioh Member State .
      Each Member State shall forward a list of ,these agencies to the other .
      Member States and the Commission not later than one month before this
      Regulation begins to apply .       Any changes to this list shall be notified
      to the other Member States and the Commission .
2 . The products covered by this Regulation shall be controlled by sample checks
      carried out in the cold stores of slaughterhouses , at all marketing stages
      and during transport . For products imported from third countries , sample
      checks shall also be carried out at the time of customs clearance .
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 3 -                   3926/Vl/73-rev. 1 B
                                      Article 4
1 . Decisions on non-compliance with the provisions of this Regulation shall      '
    be taken in respect of entire lots only ,
    " Let" means any quantity of products with the same characteristics , individual
    packs , labels or bulk packs , as the case iaay be , bearing identical legends .
2 . Where it is found that a lot inspected does - not comply with the provisions
    of this Regulation , the inspecting agency shall , without prejudice to the
    penalties referred to in Article 6 , prohibit its marketing or , if it comes
    from a third country , its importation unless proof is produced that is has
    been downgraded .
                                      Article 5
    Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation , including rules on
    minimum sampling and tolerances allowed during control , shall be laid down
    in accordance with procedure provided for in Article 17 of Regulation
    No 123/67/EEC .
                                      Article 6
    Member States shall take all necessary steps to penalize infringements of
    the provisions of this Regulation .
                                      Article 7
    This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
    publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
    The system introduced by this Regulation shall apply as from 1st May 1974 *
    This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
    all Member States .
    Done at Brussels ,                                        For the Council
                                                              The Président
 ---pagebreak---                                                               3936/vi/73-rev. 1 E
                                      ANNEX
                         Determination of r-oisturcs content
  1 ..
  1    Wipe the outside of the individual pack and weigh the bird in the pack.
  2 ..
  2    Remove the bird from the pack and weigh the pack.
3.     Establish the basic weight , which is equal to the difference between the
       weights at 1 and 2 .
4.     Place the bird in a dry , waterproof plastic bag in such a way that the
       abdominal cavity is towards the closed end of the bag .
 55 .. Plunge the bag into a basin of" water at a temperature of + 30° C.
                Hold it in such a way that the knot closing the bag allows no
       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,
66 ..  Keep the temperature of the basin to + 30° C f°r two heurs .
7.     Empty the basin . Pierce the bottom of the bag to allow water produced
       by thawing to escape .
8.     Leave the bird to drain for one houi .
9.     Remove the bird from the bag and dry it inside and out with filter paper .
10 .   Weigh the bird to obtain the final weight .
11 ..
11     To obtain moisture content , express the difference between the final weight
       and the basic weight as a percentage of the basic weight .
A.     Notes : Where edible offal are 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 mm
                                                    I
               - heignt : for birds of a net weight of 1250 g or less
                            31 cm : circumference 34 cm
                            for birds of a net weight of more than 1250 g-
                            40 cm : circumference 44 cm
                                                                             • • •/• • •
 ---pagebreak---                         - 2 -                    3305/VI/73-rev. 1
If the "bird is not iii an individual p&clc , "the test must
establish that the basic weight corresponds to the weight
of the bird .