CELEX: 51997PC0250
Language: en
Date: 1997-05-30
Title: Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcasses of ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                                          Brussels, 30.05.1997
                                                                          COM(97) 250 final
                                              REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
                             ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( E E C ) NO 2137/92
                        CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY SCALE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF CARCASSES OF
                        OVINE ANIMALS AND DETERMINING THE COMMUNITY STANDARD QUALITY OF FRESH
                          OR CHILLED SHEEP CARCASSES AND EXTENDING REGULATION ( E E C ) NO 338/91
 1
            ' '' ! ?/ !
                                                           Proposal for a
                                                 COUNCIL REGULATION ŒCÏ
('6 F \^tV^
                           amending Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard
  ' t ' '} '?
                            quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92
 11 *4V '•,:'            concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcasses of ovine animals
                        and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses
'•'ft.O
                  'Â rl
                                                  (presented by the Commission)
         't,f-
 "   ^ 1 . " '^ 'is  *.
   1
     , •«-+•*• ',
   1
       » »Vl ^ "
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                         REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
       ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( E E C ) NO 2137/92
   CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY SCALE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF CARCASSES OF
 OVINE ANIMALS AND DETERMINING THE COMMUNITY STANDARD QUALITY OF FRESH
    OR CHILLED SHEEP CARCASSES AND EXTENDING REGULATION ( E E C ) NO 338/91
1.   INTRODUCTION
     The establishment of market prices in the sheep sector is of particular importance as
     the Community market price is a central element in the calculation of the annual ewe
     premium, Currently, these prices are recorded weekly at Member State level
     according to a Community definition of standard quality of sheep carcasses agreed in
      1991 and set to apply until the end of 1997 marketing year. They are then translated
     into the Community average market price.
     Conscious of the need to improve market transparency, the Council, in 1992,
     introduced a carcase classification system for sheep. This classification system is a
     voluntary at Community level. It provides a method of grading carcases according
     to set criteria and thus establishes the possibility for producers to be paid according
     to these criteria. At this stage, except in Finland and Sweden, prices recorded in
     accordance with this classification system are not used in the calculation of the
     Community average market price.
     Among the long term objectives for the Community carcase classification scheme
     was that it should provide the basis for a new definition of standard quality of sheep
     carcases.
     With this in mind, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 concerning the Community
     scale for the classification of carcasses of ovine animals and determining the
     Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and extending
     Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard quality of fresh
     or chilled sheep carcasses, requires the Commission (Article 9) to submit a report to
     the Council on its implementation by 31 December 1996 at the latest.
     The scope of this report, therefore, concerns the carcase classification of ovine
     animals and also to what extent the definition of standard quality for price reporting
     which is currently in place until the end of the 1997 marketing year, could be
     improved at the light of experience in carcase classification.
     Subject to the conclusions of the report, the Council set itself the goal of making the
     use of the Community grid compulsory for all Community slaughterhouses approved
     for intra-Community trade, if possible during the 1999 marketing year and in any
     event before 1 January 2000, without prejudice to the possibility of excluding small
     slaughterhouses situated in regions where the impact on the market price produced
     by the volume slaughtered in such slaughterhouses is negligible.
     The accompanying proposals respond to the conclusions of the report.
                                             2-
 ---pagebreak--- 2. STANDARD       QUALITY
   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."
   This definition, introduced following the 1989 reform unifying the regime, has
   applied from the 1991 to the 1997 marketing years for the purposes of price
   formation and premium calculation.
   The practical implementation, of this definition involved the elimination, from price
   reporting, of lightweight carcasses 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 Austria
   and 23 kg in Denmark, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden.
   Since its introduction in May 1991, price reporting based on standard quality has
   worked well insofar as its practical operation is concerned (Commission Regulation
   (EEC) No 1481/86). 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.
   The graph in Annex 1 shows the trend in Member State prices since 1981 and the
   notable convergence which occurred on the introduction of price reporting based on
   standard quality in 1991.
                                                    r
                                                      j
   Nevertheless, there are still significant differences between prices in the different
   Member States. These differences arise mainly from variations in production and
   consumption patterns, seasonality of supply and degree of self-sufficiency between
   Member States together with qualitative differences in terms of carcase weights,
   conformation and fat levels. In addition, there appears to be some consumer
   preference in "importing" Member States for domestic lamb rather than for lamb
   brought
        •o*
             in from another Member State.
   In effect, then, even within standard quality there are some qualitative price
   differences between Member States. Elimination of these qualitative differences
   through the reporting of prices of the same qualities of carcase would increase the
   transparency of prices reported under standard quality.
3.  CARCASE CLASSIFICATION
   3.1      Regulatory aspects
            Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 establishes the provisions concerning the
            Community scale for the classification of sheep carcasses including, in
            particular, the definition of the carcase, the criteria for classification, price
            reporting and inspections. It establishes two classification systems:
                                                 3
 ---pagebreak---     - a system which describes both conformation and degree of fat cover,
        normally referred to as the "SEUROP grid",
    - a system which may apply only to lambs under 13 kg and which describes
        weight, meat colour and fat cover, normally referred to as the "A grid".
    Commission Regulation (EEC) No 461/93 laying down detailed rules for the
    Community scale for the classification of carcasses of ovine animals entered
    into force on 6 March 1993 with provision for price reporting based on
    classification with effect from 8 April 1993.
    At the beginning of 1995 the Office for Official Publications of the European
    Communities published brochures issued, in all Community languages except
    Swedish and Finnish, by the Commission explaining the Community scales for
    the classification of sheep and of light lambs. These brochures are available
    from the office : Ref : SEUROP : CM-84-94-694; A grid : CM 84-94-703.
    Since its introduction, both carcase classification and price reporting thereon
    have been voluntary at slaughterhouse level.
    In accordance with the regulations, control visits have been made to all
    Member States applying the grids in the period 1993-1995 with a view
    initially to align grading standards among Member State experts and to
    ensure that these standards were adhered to in the slaughterhouses visited.
3.2 Implementation at Member State level (See Annex 2 for details for each
    Member State)
    Carcase classification based on the "SEUROP grid" is compulsory in Finland,
    France, Sweden and Germany. In addition, some classification also takes
    place in Denmark, Ireland and, to a much lesser extent, in the UK and Greece
    under this grid.
     Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece all indicated their intention to classify
    carcasses of lambs less than 13 kg weight via the "A grid". To date, however,
    classification under this grid has taken place to a limited extent only in Spain,
    Portugal and Greece.
     Virtually no progress has been made in the implementation of carcase
     classification in Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Italy.
     Several reasons have been put forward for the slow progress in the
     implementation of carcase classification. Among these are:
     - in many Member States, producers sell their lambs live in livestock
        markets or directly off farms to slaughterhouse owners or traders and have
         no further interest in them. The transaction and payment is on live lambs.
         In the UK and Spain up to 80% of trade takes place in this form;
     - where producers do sell directly to slaughterhouses they often sell their
         lambs in lots based on an agreed price per kg carcase weight. Thus, the
         producer's interest, with the exception of certain producer groups, in
         grading may be academic rather than financial;
                                          T
 ---pagebreak---             - in some Member States, slaughterhouses are municipal rather than
               privately/co-operatively owned so that grading facilities or personnel may
               not be present;
            - slaughterers' and wholesalers sometimes suggest that the Community
               classification system is not relevant in dealings at the wholesale/retail side
               of their businesses where a simple grading into first/second/third quality
               tends to be the norm;
            - disagreement between slaughterhouses and producers as to who carries
               out and who pays for the classification;
            - virtual absence of a. strong slaughter sector in Member States from which
               there is a traditional important live export trade.
            However, it is recalled that many producers, and in particular producer
            groups, are keenly interested in classification, even if occasionally they are
            reluctant to have payment based upon it. They generally consider that
            classification, and the rewards relating to payment on good quality lamb, is a
            useful tool in achieving improvements in the quality of the product sold both
            for the domestic and export market. In that sense, classification, could in the
            longer term lead to better producer prices and quality more in line with
            consumer demand.
4. PRICES AND QUALITY OF PRICE REPORTING BASED ON CLASSIFICATION
    In Annex 3, price tables for 1995 and 1996 and graphs comparing grid prices and
    prices based on standard quality and including different grid qualities for 1996 are
    set down. However, the quality of the prices reported by Member States where
    classification take place is variable due to several factors.
    Only prices in Sweden and Finland, where classification is compulsory and where
    price reporting according to the grid covers most or all lamb production can be
    considered satisfactory. Indeed, these prices are used in the calculation of the
    Community weekly market price (Regulation (EEC) No 1841/86) which in turn is
    used for premium calculation purposes.
    In France, where classification is compulsory, eight slaughterhouses representing
    10% of national production have agreed to report prices paid according to the grid
    in the framework of a national observatory.
    Elsewhere the representativity of prices and the geographic representativity of the
    slaughterhouses concerned is open to question.
    In Germany, although 14 slaughterhouses take part in price reporting according to
    classification, only 3% of total German production is concerned.
    In Ireland., although 20% of total national throughput is classified, only two
    slaughterhouses are involved.
    In Great Britain, only two slaughterhouses representing less than 1% of national
    slaughterings provide prices.
 ---pagebreak---     Indeed, the representativity of the throughput in these slaughterhouses in
    comparison to the national throughput is open to question. It appears that individual
    producers may sell their better lambs using classification as a payment basis. In
    addition, there is a tendency for producer groups, normally containing the more
    quality oriented producers, to use classification.
    In relation to the "A grid", a similar pattern emerges. In Spain six volunteer
    slaughterhouses provide prices. In Portugal three slaughterhouses provided
    information in 1995 but the number of animals classified was small while in Greece
   just one slaughterhouse provides information.
5. CONCLUSIONS
   The lack of progress in several Member States in implementing carcase classification
   and price reporting based thereon over the past four years is disappointing.
   Carcase classification is widely developed only in Finland, Sweden and France.
   Elsewhere, with the exception of Germany, it is dependent on the goodwill of
   producers and slaughterers. For different reasons, including a preference for live
   markets and for selling lambs to slaughterers at a fixed price per kg, a majority of
   producers seem to be reluctant to sell lamb via the classification system.
   Slaughterers, too, seem to be reluctant given the relatively few volunteers in several
   Member States.
   This lack of progress raises the question not just as to whether the Council should
   continue to pursue its goal of making use of the Community grid compulsory before
   January 2000 but whether it should pursue any such goal at all. It could be argued
   that, if such a widespread lack of interest in classification exists, then the need for a
   Community classification scheme is itself questionable.
   Nevertheless, the Commission points out that, unlike in most other sectors, prices in
   the sheep sector have a direct bearing on the level of the annual premium and hence
   on the amount of Community expenditure devoted to the sheep sector each year.
   Thus, it is essential that transparency be evident in reported prices. Such
   transparency is greatly increased when qualitative differences are removed from price
   comparisons.
   The Commission believes that the goal set itself by the Council of making use of the
   grid compulsory is not feasible. However, It does not feel that non use of
   classification, at this stage, in some Member States, should lead to its abandonment.
   The positive aspects of classification with regard to price transparency and indeed
   the improvement carcase quality lead the Commission to conclude that classification
    is of value to the sector and that's its use should be developed. The Commission,
    therefore, concludes that the inclusion of prices of classified carcasses within price
    reporting for the establishment of the Community average market price and hence
    premium calculation is desirable.
    With regard to standard quality, it is clear, as indicated, that it has worked well in so
    far as its practical operation is concerned but that important price differences still
    exist between Member States with part of those differences relating to qualitative
    factors.
 ---pagebreak--- 6. PROPOSALS
   With regard to carcase classification, the Commission proposes that the Council set
   aside the goal it set itself subject to the conclusions of this report of making the use
   of the Community grid compulsory for all Community slaughterhouses approved for
   intra Community trade, if possible during the 1999 marketing year and in any event
   before 1 January 2000.
   In effect, this means that carcase classification would remain a voluntary tool at
   Community level to be used Where it is seen to have a benefit for the sheep industry.
   Against this background, the Commission proposes that the current definition of
   standard quality be left unchanged in the future.
   However, the Commission does wish to see carcase classification incorporated into
   the price reporting mechanism for standard quality in accordance with progress with
    its implementation in the various Member States and intends within the framework of
    its own competence to pursue this aim. It believes that this step will assist in making
    prices more transparent and in explaining differences between market prices in
    different Member States.
    The Commission intend, therefore, where possible to include in the price reported for
    standard quality for each Member State a percentage reserved for prices established
    according to the Community classification grids. Thus, a relatively small and varying
    percentage between Member States inclusion of prices of classified carcases is
    envisaged.
    In order to achieve this aim, some modification of Commission Regulations (EEC)
    No 1481/86 on price reporting and (EEC) No 461/93 on the detailed rules for
    carcase classification will be required in order to incorporatcprice reporting under
    both classification grids to price reporting for the calculation of Member State and
     Community market prices used principally for the purposes of premium calculation.
     In addition, a technical modification of Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 will be
     required in order to permit the splitting of carcase category C in the A grid for price
     reporting purposes.
     Finally, the Commission signals its intention also of re-examining, within its own
     competence, the operation of the Community inspection group provided for in
     Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 with a view to making it more effective and less
     costly by reducing its size and by concentrating on Member States where reported
     prices include prices for classified animals.
     The Commission intends to finalise its amendments to the above mentioned
     Commission regulations after discussion of this report and the adoption of the
     accompanying draft regulation by the Council.
     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 modify to a second regulation.
      Annexes
 ---pagebreak---            Prix de la viande ovine - Prices of sheepmeat - Preise fur Schaf-Fleisch
       650
                                                                                             • B
                                                                                            + DK
       550
                                                                                            BGR
   o
   o
   3
   O 450                                                                                          0)
   LU                                                                                             3
                                                                                            • Irl 3
00
    <D
                                                                                            • I   X
                                                                                                  (D
     i
                                                                                            + NL
    a) 350
                                                                                            OO
    >                                                                                       • P
    3
    O
                                                                                            ^ FIN
       250
                                                                                            • S
                                                                                            * UK
                                                                                            - UE
       150
            1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
 ---pagebreak---                                         ANNEX 2
    IMPLEMENTATION OF SHEEP CLASSIFICATION SCALES BY MEMBER STATES
Summary of statements made at meetings of working party up to and including 2
   February 1996 together with updated information provided bv Member States
   in December 1996.
   BELGIUM
   - Classification is not compulsory and no slaughterhouses are systematically
       classifying. One slaughterhouse may classify on a very limited basis in 1996.
   - Limited use in promotion campaigns.           Some live grading based on carcase
       classification scale.
   - Direct sales by producer to consumer make up 50% of total sales.
    DENMARK
   - Objective : to extend classification in accordance with the scale to all
       slaughterhouses but classification is not compulsory.
    - Producers favourable.
    - Grid operational (27.2 % of national slaughterings).
    - One company paying on classification. Classifiers paid by slaughterhouse.
    - 22.6 % of payments based on classification.
    - Classification done by slaughterhouse staff with control by the Danish
       Classification Board.
    - Presentational difference (removal of kidney and kidney fat) being eliminated by a
        corrective factor.
     GERMANY
    - Classification is compulsory in slaughterhouses with a through put of more than
        50 lambs per week.
     - Only 3% of national production paid on the basis of the grid (60,000 lambs).
 ---pagebreak---   Producers reticent (lack of confidence vis-a-vis the slaughterhouse and clear
  preference for flat-rate payment per head or kilogram of carcase).
  Fourteen volunteer slaughterhouses now involved in classification but
  slaughterhouses unhappy at extra costs involved under national law (65 DM per
  hour for independent graders). Only 23.4 % of their production (3 % of national
  production) is paid on the basis of the grid alone.
  Direct sales by producer to consumer make up 50% of total sales.
GREECE
- Classification is not compulsary
- Little interest in SEUROP grid, some interest in BIS grid.
- One volunteer slaughterhouse classifies carcases with 2 other slaughterhouses
  now showing some interest (100,000 lambs classified in 1995).
- Price differences mainly determined by weight.
- Problems in presentation of carcases.
- Problems due to small slaughterhouses.
- Problems due to low level of direct sales by producers to slaughterhouses.
- Classifiers paid by the State.
SPAIN
- Classification is not compulsory and the SEUROP grid is not suitable.
- Bis grid : six volunteer slaughterhouses which provide prices regularly (good
  geographical distribution) with interest growing.
- 20 % direct sales by producer to slaughterhouse. As trade is in live animals the
  live price is the most important.
FRANCE
- Carcase classification is mandatory since 1977.
- Grid operational (85 % of national production).
- Price collection system by OFIVAL (8 correspondents accounting for 10% of
  national production) on SEUROP grid.
 ---pagebreak--- - Payment on SEUROP grid on 617,000 lamb carcases in 1995 especially to better
   producers (producer groups).
- 70 % direct sales by producer to slaughterhouse.
- Classification done by abattoir staff.
- The criteria for the former National grid (EUROP) used for price reporting under
   Regulation No 1481/86.
- Total payments on classification amount to 50% of national production.
IRELAND
- Classification not compulsory but this option being considered.
- Good progress on use of SEUROP grid for grading with 5 different and varying
   price levels based on joined grid positions to be operated.
- Two slaughterhouses with 20% of national throughput now operating and paying
   on classification (still some payment problems at certain times of year in one of
   them) 440,000 lambs classified in 1995.
- Classification done by abattoir staff under technical supervision of Department of
   Agr.
 ITALY
 - Classification not compulsory and littleJ enthusiasm by slaughterhouses or
   producers.
 - SEUROP grid not relevant. Bis grid is relevant.
 - 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 producer to slaughterhouse.
 - Seasonality problems (peak sales, in October-April).
 - Training courses to be organized for slaughterhouses and producers.
 - Institution of an observatory envisaged for price collection.
                                            -M
 ---pagebreak--- NETHERLANDS
- Classification is not compulsory.
- Little interest in slaughterhouses. One slaughterhouse participating with 1% of
   animals classified and producers paid on classification (4,000 lambs in 1995).
- Particular interest in export of live animals 558,000 live exports in 1995 (50% of
   total production): one group classifies and purchases live animals in accordance
   with the scale (33,000 heads); cost of classification Dfl. 0.5 per animal.
- 5 % direct sales by producer to slaughterhouse (estimate).
- 90 % of lambs for slaughter or export are sold via a trader on the holding.
- Bulking of lambs for sale from small producers with sheep as a secondary
   enterprise makes it difficult to pass classification information to small producers.
- Classification done by indépendant company which charges slaughterhouse
   (207 FL/day plus VAT) or producer (live animals).
PORTUGAL
- Classification not compulsory.
- Producers interested in bis grid. SEUROP grid not relevant. .
- Three volunteer slaughterhouses but small numbers of animals classified and paid
   according to grid at present (5% of total).
- Classification done by regional body of Ministry of Agriculture with centralized
   checking.
 - Weight rather than quality determines price level.
 - Large percentage of production sold by producers to traders.
 UNITED KINGDOM
 - Classification is not compulsory.
 - Two volunteer slaughterhouses in Great Britain paying according to grid (out of
    approximately 400) (less than 1% of total slaughterings) (44,000 lambs in 1995).
 - Two volunteer slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland (10% of total slaughterings)
    (148,000 lambs in 1995).
 - Classification done by MLC (paid by slaughterhouse) or by slaughterhouse.
    Control by MAFF rarely.
                                             u
 ---pagebreak--- - Three problems :
    1.    Slaughterhouses not interested in payment on classification (see no
          benefit).
    2.    Slaughterhouse owners are not convinced that notifying prices paid to
          producers is in their interest (in particular vis-a-vis their main competitors and
          commercial contacts).
    3.    Lack of cooperation between slaughterhouses and the Ministry mainly for
          commercial reasons.
- 20 %direct sales by producer to slaughterhouse, the rest sold mainly via auction
   markets.                                .„
- Continuing efforts tofindvolunteer slaughterhouses but little success.
SWEDEN
- Classification compulsory, producers paid on classification (2.1001 in 1995).
- Direct tradefromfarm to slaughterhouse (producers favourable).
- Classification done by slaughterhouse staff with control by Board of Agriculture.
- Classification according to the grid. The Class S is not used.
- Presentational difference (removal of kidney and kidney fat) being eliminated by a
   corrective factor.
                                                   Q
- The grid is the basis for the carcase trade.
 FINLAND
 - Classification is compulsory.
 - Classification done by slaughterhouse staff with control by Ministry.
 - All sheep classified with no distinction between categories (ewes, lambs, rams).
 - Presentational difference (removal of kidney and kidney fat) being eliminated by a
    corrective factor.
 - Classification of over 90% of all animals with prices paid and reported on them.
                                             1%
 ---pagebreak--- AUSTRIA
- Classification is not compulsory.
- Direct marketing of sheep at live markets.
- Slaughterhouses small with only 14% of total slaughterings (287,000) going
  through the 30 slaughterhouses in Austria.
- Direct sales between producers and consumers account for; 80 - 90 % of total
  production.
                                         1+
 ---pagebreak---                                       Annexe 3
Prix selon la grille de classement et selon la qualité type pour 1995 et 1996
et graphiques comparatifs entre les prix selon la grille et selon la qualité type
pour 1996.
Classification grid and standard quality prices for 1995 and 1996
and comparative graphs between classification grid and standard
quality prices for 1996.
Preise 1995 und 1996 gemâss Handelsklassenschema und
Standardqualitâtspreisen sowie Grafiken zum Vergleich der Preise
gemass Handelsklassenschema mit den Preisen der
Standardqualitât fur 1996.
                                                      r*
 ---pagebreak---                                                                 isas.
                                                       Prix - Prices - Preise
                                                                                                  eCU/100 kg
                    DK           D               F             IRL          Fin    S     GB     IRLN
  E   1                      386.9                           318.1              289.1
      2          402,0       391.0            511.7          333.9        291,3 428.7
      3          374,3        388.6          484,3           322.6        242,2        348.9   331.6
      4                       361.6           398,9          324,6                             304,3
      5                      338.1            363,1          304,0
  U   1                       388,7           355.5          272,6              308,9
      2          339,2       386,1           471.7           332.4       250,9  402,3  275.7   325,4
      3          342,9       381.1           457.3           317.7       229,7  367,1  311.8   322,8
      4                      360,5            368.3          322.5        186,3 243.9  VW4btO  305,3
      S                      339.0           335.9           307.3              175.7  274,1   269.6
  R   1                      371.7            348,5          303,4       207.7  303.1
      2          295,3       378.5           443.6           313.0       229,3  335.4  319,9   328.0
      3          302,8       370,3           420,2           319.0        183,4 307.9  296,7   326,0
      4                      349.8           344.6           302.5        145.3 207.6  299.1   304.4
      5                      314.1            325,2          248.7        124,4 151.8  271,8 - 281,9
  O   1                      356,4           317.4           278,4        188.6 229,0
      2          247,2       364,8           369.8           290,4        198,4 287,4  259.9   270.9
      3          273.8       364.7           386.1           314.6        168.6 279.6  290.8   323.5
      4                      343.0            327.6          299,8        127.4 182.5  271.6   293.7
      5                      320,6           302,4                              143.6
  P   1                      266,5           294.9           277.1        134.2 115,5
      2           137,4      272.0           330,8           237,8        130.6 146,6
      3           128.9      245.0           315.6                        96.6  139.9
    . 4                                                                   76.6
      5                                                                   43.1
0   SEUROP
                 304,8       364,5           421,5           314,1        186,3 289,6  295,3   318,2
0   Qualité typa - Standard quality - Standardqualititt
                 270,6       358,6           380,2           308,4        186,3 289,6  336,7   310,1
                                       Quantités en % • Quantity in % - Mengein%
                    DK           0               F             IRL .        FIN    S     GB     IRLN
  E   1            0.0         0.3             0.0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0.0      0,0
      2            0,6         0.6             0.1            0,0          0.0   0,0    0.0      0,0
      3            2,1          1.2            0,2            0.2          0,0   0,0    0,0      1.8
      4            0,0         0,2             0.0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0,0      0.2
      5            0.0         0.1.            0,0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0,0      0.0
  U   1            0,0         0.7             0.0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0.0      0.0
      2            4.9         2.2             4.4             1.5         0.3   0,2    2.3      1.5
      3            19.9        4.7             17.2           17.7         0.1   0.1    21.4    15.9
      4            0.0         0,9              1.3            3.4         0.0   0.0     7.1     8.3
      6            0.0         0.1             0.0             0.2         0.0   0.0     0.1     0,7
  R   1            0.0         3.4             0.3             0.0         0.1   0.5     0.0     0.0
      2            15.2        10,3            15.6            8.9         6.2   23,0    6.4     6.1
      3           38,5         27.1            39.6           55,1         3.1   13.0   42.9    35.8
      4            0.0          7.5            3.9             3.1         0.2    0.9   13,0     14,0
      5            0.0          1,3            0.1             3,0         0.0    0.0    0,3      1.3
  0   1            0.0         6.5              0.6            0,0         2,6    6.1    0.0     0.0
      2            11.7        12.1             2,3            3,3         51,4  43.6    3,7     2.1
      3            6.9         16.0            13.2            2.5         9.5    8.9    2.9     11.4
      4            0.0          2.2             0.9            0.0         0.6    0.4    0.0     0.9
      5       '•"* 0.0          0.1             0.0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0.0     0.0
  P   1             0.0         2.1             0.0            0.1          5.4   1.7    0.0      0,0
      2             0.1         0.4             0.0            0.9         17.1   1.4    0.0      0,0
      3            0.0          0.1             0,0            0.0          0.8   0.0    0,0      0.0
      4            0.0          0.0             0.0            0,0          0,0   0.0    0,0      0.0
      5             0.0         0.0             0.0            0.0          0.0   0.0    0,0      0.0
                  100.0       100.0           100.0           100.0        97.7  100.0  100.0   100.0
                                                                     /fc
 ---pagebreak---                                                        1995
                                              Prix - Prices - Preise
                                                                                          ecu/100 kg
                 OK              D                F           IRL          S    GB      IRLN
  E   1                       349,6
      2        325.0          351.1           441.4        250.9       226.9
      3        319.1          349,3           431.0        277.2              327.8   280.4
      4                       334.0           326.6        236.0                      245.1
      5                       334.5           280.6
  U   1                       349.1           351.2        275.6       286.1
      2        303,0          650.4           419.2        280.7       360,0  267.2   273.1
      3        300,4          348.8           409.7        270.7       339,5  263.5   270.3
      4                       336.1           313.7        272.1              253,7   252.7
      5                       316.3           292.7                           218.7   216,9
  R   1                       343.9           327.3       255.4        295.0
      2        255,5          340,6           388,4        265.4       318.8  267.0   274.0
      3        270,0         341.8            379.4      "277,1        283,8  264,9   273,0
      4        229,7         327,5            280.8       250.9        176,9  262.5   252.9
      5                      308.9            281.6       269,7         95,4  224,2  •225.0
  0   1                      338.4            260,2       224,0        237.6
      2        225,2         336.1            344.3       263,3        276.2  247.6   233.1
      3        211.7         337.1            350.8       261.7        256.6  248.1   262.8
      4                      323,8            260.3       294.5      ° 157.9  288.3   240,1
      5                      308,5            265.1                     93.2          216,6
  P   1                      306,8            277.4       218.4        137.0
      2        126.0         312,8            320.1       242.6        142.0
      3        100,6         318,2            313.6       250.2        108,2
      4                      354.0                                      15.6
      5                      343.7
0*SEUROP
               256,2         343,2           374,5        273,2        277,2  254,4   265,9
0   Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualltât
               256,4         335,0           328,6        257,1        277,2  284,4   258,2
                               Quantités en % - Quantity in % - Menge in %
                 DK              D               F           IRL          S     GB     IRLN
  E   1         0.0            0.2             0.0          0.0         0.0    0,0      0,0
      2         0.1            0,7             0.2          0.0         0.0    0.0      0.0
      3         0.1            1.1             0.2          0.0         0.0    0.0       1.3
      4         0.0            0.2             0.0          0.0         0.0    0,0      0.1
      5         0.0            0,1             0,0          0.0          0.0   0.0      0,0
  U   1         0.0            0.7             0.1          0,0          0.0   0.0      0.0
      2         3.3            2.0             5.2           1.0        0.2    2,8       1.7
      3         10,4           4.7             15.4         16.5         0.1   10.5    18.6
      4         0.0             1.1             1.3          1.5         0.0   10.3     8.9
      5         0.0            0.4             0.0          0.0          0.0   0.0      0.6
  R   1         0.0            3.1             0,8          0.0          0.5   0.0      0.0
      2         17.1           12.9            12,4         5.6         23.0   9.7      6.6
      3         38.3          26.3             40.5         58.2        14.0   39.9    37.3
      4         0.0            8.2             4.6           1.1         1.0   15.9     12.0
      5          0.0           2.9              0.1          6,6         0.0    0.0      0.7
  0   1          0.0            4.1             0.6          0,0         4.9    0.0      0.0
      2         18.4            8.7             1.7-         5.4        42.2    6.0      1.8
      3         12.1           16.2            15.9          3.8        11.1    4.7     10.1
      4          0.0            3.8             0.9          0.0         0.6    0.2      0,2
      5          0.0            0.9             0.0          0.0         0.0    0.0      0.0
  P   1          0.0            0.8             0.0          0.1         1.2    0.0      0.0
      2          0.3            0.8             0.1          0.0         1.0    0.0      0.0
      3          0.0            0.2             0,0          0.0         0.0    0.0      0.0
      4          0.0            0,0             0,0          0.0         0.0    0.0      0.0
      5          0.0            0.0             0.0          0.0         0.0    0.0      0.0
               100.0           100.0           100.0        100.0       100.0  100.0   100.0
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                  R3
                                                                 1995
     520
       t
     480
     440
                                                                                                            + Dk
     400                                                                                                    _. D
   o 360                                                                                                    •  F
«> o
                                                                                                            -A-(ri
   g 320
                                                                                                            «S
                                                                                                            •  GB
     280
                                                                                                            _ IrIN
     240
     200
     160 _i_i_.1.J_l_Li_ J J-J_L _.1_ t_l_.LJ_t._LJ_l_l_L_Ui_ J_L_L I M  1 I I I 1 I I l_I_.t_J-J._J-
           1         6         11           16        21       26       31        36         41       46 51
                                                   Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---             02
             1995
   520
   480
   440
                                                     + Dk
   400
                                                     • D
_
o 360                                                * F
o
                                                     • Irl
   320
O                                                    • S
LU
                                                     • GB
   280
                                                     • IrIN
   240
   200
   160                           L I I I I l_l-J-J_L
        21        26       31
       Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                            Danmark
                                               1996
   500
                                                          Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitat
   400                                                    Grille - Grid - Schema
CO
__
o
o
D
O
LU
   300
       L_Jl_J_J I—I LLJ... LJ-J .J-J-l—LL—-L_._LJ I I_LJ._LJ_.LJ_L1_LL.LJ. J_  .J_.J._Ll...i_l_J_.L_L
   200
         6         11         16        21       26       31       36      41      46           51
                                       Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                   Deutschland
                                           1996
        500
        400
     CO
    _:
    o
    o
(s*
    3
    O
    LU
        300
                                                          Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitat
                                                          Grille - Grid - Schema
            i i i    i i i i i i     i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i          I I I LL
        200
                  11    16        21        26        31        36         41  46      51
                                 Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                        France
                                          1996
     500
     400
  CO
  _£
  O
  O
£ D
  O
  LU
     300 h                                               Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitât
                                                         Grille - Grid - Schema
           i i i i i i i i i i i iJ i i i i i i i i i       l_L_LJ_i.J_ _L_J_ 1_ L J_ - J-J _ J _ L . L L
     200
              11        16        21       26         31       36        41          46         '    51
                                 Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                   Ireland
                                     1996
    500
                                           mm Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitât
                                          — Grille - Grid - Schema
    400
 CO
_
o
o
3
O
LU
    300
                _ J - L J - J - I I I I I I I I I I-I I I I I I I I I J_LLJJ._LLJ._L_L
    200
        6 11 16         21           26        31        36        41       46       51
                       Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak--- Finland/Suomi
      1996
 ---pagebreak---                                                                             Sverige
                                                                                1996
        500
        400
     CO
    _:
    o
    o                                                                                             Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitât
    3                                                                                             Grille - Grid - Schema
*4>
    O
    LU
                                                                             w    *%». .^r^l
        300
                                                                                                               \,*^
                    />r^u.p
              !'""'
                                                                                                                                      £\
        200 ±_l_l_i. ± _ L J - i _ . - . L l J . J _ L J — L - L - L J I I——_l I I I I.. I I I I I I J.J.J..J_J_J„.J_ I_L.I _L_L_LJ_
                                          11              16            21       26          31       36          41        46       51
                                                                       Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                         Great Britain
                                                 1996
      500
                                                                   Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitat
                                                                   Grille - Grid - Schema
      400
   CO
  _:
  o
  o
N
^ 3
  O
  LU
      300
          I I l _ L    I I I  I I I I I  I I I I I  I I I I I  I I  I I I  I I I
      200
                    11       16         21         26         31          36     41     46     51
                                      Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                                 Northern Ireland
                                                            1996
      500
                                                                          Qualité type - Standard quality - StandardqualitSt
      400 h                                                               Grille - Grid - Schema
   co
  ._
  o
  o
£ 3
  o
  LU
      300
            i i i i i i i i - J _LJ._LJ_LJ._l_J_J_L_l_J_L   I I I J—L l I I I I J_l I I I 1-L.    i
      200
                                11        16       21        26        31        36        41  46      51
                                                   Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---                                  Elias
                                 1996
      850
      800
      750
                                        m Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitât
      700
                                        a-i Grille bis - A Grid - Schema a
      650
   co 600
   _?
   o
   o
      550
lu 3
o  S 500
      450
      400
      350
      300
               i i    i  i i i i i  i i i i i  i          i i i i  i i i i i  i i i i i  i i i
      250
          6 11     16   21         26         31      36          41         46         51
                        Semaines - Weeks - Wochen
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                           Prix - Prices - Preise
              Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitàt
                                                                     • DK
                                                                     -é-D
                                                                     e Gr
                                                                     *7 E
   O)
   _:                                                                A FIN
1°                                                                   • F
   g 320
   UJ                                                                • Irl
                                                                     • S
                                                                     • UK
      240                                                            • U.E
      200
      160
          Jan   Fév  Mars  Avril Mai  Juin Juil Août Sep Oct Nov Dec
                                     1996
 ---pagebreak---                          Prix - Prices - Preise
           Qualité type - Standard quality - Standardqualitàt
       435                                                         520
                                                                   480
                                                                           • DK
                                                                   440     * D
    O)
                                                                           B Gr
   I 335                                                           400
                                                                           *  E
   D                                                                   O
   O
   UJ                                                              360 tu  -h FIN
Vu                                                                      3
                                                                        0)
                                                                           • F
   •o                                                              320 £
                                                                        0) • M
   5
    I
   1 235                                                           280   | •  S
    o
    c                                                                  3
   <                                                                   O   « UK
                                                                   240
                                                                           •  U.E
                                                                   200
                            l__ _L                                 160
       135
           Jan Fév  Mars  Avril Mai Juin Juil Août Sep Oct Nov Dec
                                    1995
 ---pagebreak---                                      Proposal for a
                             COUNCIL REGULATION ŒO
    amending Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard
     quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92
 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcasses of ovine animals
and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcasses
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 of 25 September 1989 on the
common organization of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat ', as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1589/96 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 carcasses 3, as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1278/94 4, applies until the end of the 1997 marketing year, pending
the setting up of Community carcase classification standards; Whereas sufficient progress
has not been made to permit the replacement of the current Community standard quality
by the standards in question; whereas the current standard quality should therefore be
retained;
Whereas in view of the conclusions of the Commission report on the implementation of
Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 5, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1278/94 the
goal set itself by the Council of making the use of the Community grid compulsory for all
Community slaughterhouses approved for intra-Community trade, if possible during the
 1999 marketing year and in any event before 1 January 2000 without prejudice to the
possibility of excluding small slaughterhouses situated in regions where the impact on the
market price produced by the volume slaughtered in such slaughterhouses is negligible,
should no longer be pursued.
Whereas in order to facilitate price reporting, Member States should be authorised to
 subdivide category C in Annex III of Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 into two
 subcategories;
 1
     OJ No L 289, 7.10.1989, p. I
 2
     OJ No L 206, 16.8.1996, p. 25
 3
     OJNoL41, 14.2.1991, p. 1
 4
     OJ No L 140, 3.6.1994, p. 5
 5
     OJ No L 214, 30.7.1992, p. 1                  2</-
 ---pagebreak--- VI-D-2
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                         Article 1
The second subparagraph of Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 shall be deleted.
                                          Article 2
Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 is hereby amended as follows :
1.   The following subparagraph is added to Article 3 (3)
     "Member States making use of the classification system provided for in Annex III
     shall be authorized to subdivide category C into two subcategories"
2.   Article 9 is deleted.
                                            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 to all Member
States.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                   For the Council
                                                3S
 ---pagebreak---        FINANCIAL STATEMENT
                                                                                      DATE: 9.4.1997
       BUDGET HEADING:             B1 -2220                                           APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 1 656.4m
       TITLE: Council Regulation amending Reg. 338/91 determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep
       carcases and Reg. 2137/92 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and the
       Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases
       LEGAL BASIS: Art. 4 of Council Reg. 3013/89
       AIMS
       - To extend the definition of Community standard quality
       - To repeal Art. 9 of Reg. 2137/92 (compulsory application of Community scale)
       - To adapt the use of Annex m to Reg.2137/92
       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS (in ECU million)                 PERIOD OF 12            CURRENT             FOLLOWING
                                                                  MONTHS           FINANCIAL YEAR       FINANCIAL YEAR
                                                                                         (97)                  (98)
5.0.   EXPENDITURE CHARGED TO:
       -EC BUDGET
         (REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
       - NATIONAL AUTHORITIES
       -OTHSR
5.1.   REVENUE
       - OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC
       - (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
       -NATIONAL
                                                                 1999            2000           2001             2002
5.0.1. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
5.1.1. ESTIMATED REVENUE
5.2.   METHOD OF CALCULATION:
6.0.   CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT
       CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?
                                                                                                               YES/NO
6.1.   CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT                                  YES/NO
       BUDGET?
6.2.   IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY?                                                                     YES/NO
6.3.   WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY?                                                          YES/NO
OBSERVATIONS:
                                                                34
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(97) 250 final
                                             DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                           03
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-239-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-20153-7
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
                                           if