Beef labelling - your questions answered
Q.1. What is the beef labelling system?
A. Compulsory beef labelling in the EU applies to all fresh and frozen beef and veal at all stages of the production chain from slaughterhouse to retailer. This system supplements the voluntary beef labelling system that has been in force since 1998. European Parliament and Council Regulation 1760/2000 govern both elements of the beef labelling system. Local authorities and government inspectors enforce the labelling rules in England.
Compulsory country of origin labelling came into force on 1 January 2002.
Q.2. What indications are required under the compulsory system?
A. Compulsory indications are:
- a reference number or code linking meat on sale to the original animal or group of animals from which the meat was derived
- the country of birth* and the country of rearing*
- the country of slaughter with plant approval number
- the country of cutting with plant approval number(s)
*if both country of birth and rearing are the same as country of slaughter then these additional requirements could be replaced with the indication "Origin" {name of country}
There are slightly different rules for mince.
Wherever the rules require the country to be indicated this refers to the EU Member State (e.g. UK) or non-EU country, (not to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland which are still voluntary claims-see Q.3).
Q.3. How does the voluntary Scheme work?
A. The Beef Labelling Scheme controls the voluntary labelling of operators at all levels of the supply chain from abattoir to retailer. All non-compulsory information about the origin, method of production or characteristics of beef, or animal from which it is derived, requires Government approval under the Beef Labelling Scheme. The Scheme requires operators to establish a traceability system and to employ a Government-recognised independent third party to verify the information on the label. Traceability is the key requirement of the Scheme.
Q.4. Why do operators using voluntary claims have to employ a verifier?
A. It is an express requirement of the regulations that a Government-recognised body verify the system of records used by operators selling beef to ensure that their labelling information is true. There are currently five verification bodies operating under European Standard EN/45011. There is a cost to the operator who must employ a verifier to check their non-compulsory claims. However, there is competition amongst the verifiers which helps to keep the price lower.
Q.5. What are the benefits of beef labelling?
A. There are benefits from beef labelling for consumers who have enhanced information about the beef they buy and this will result in greater consumer confidence and therefore an improvement in the market. The traceability systems supports the important requirement that any beef labelled as "British" must have come from an animal that was born in Britain, raised in Britain and slaughtered in Britain.
Page last modified: 28 November 2007