Nowe zasady etykietowania świeżego, schłodzonego lub zamrożonego mięsa (z owiec, kóz, świń i drobiu) stosuje się od 1 kwietnia 2015.
Uzgodnione przez państwa członkowskie w grudniu 2013 nowe zasady były wynikiem wymagań nałożonych na podstawie rozporządzenia o informacji o żywności dla konsumentów (Rozporządzenie 1169/2011). Odzwierciedlają one zainteresowanie konsumentów przede wszystkim o miejscu, w którym zwierzęta są hodowane, przy próbie unikania dodatkowych obciążeń i kosztów w łańcuchu dostaw.
Wdrożenie nowego rozporządzenia na szczeblu państw członkowskich może wciąż stworzyć jakieś możliwe nieporozumienia w odniesieniu do tego, czego oczekuje się od operatorów w odniesieniu do informacji o pochodzeniu. Mając to na uwadze, sekretariat UECBV zadał właściwym służbom Komisji konkretne pytania w celu uzyskania wyjaśnień.
Pytania i odpowiedzi są przedstawione poniżej. Mamy nadzieję, że zapewnią dodatkową pomoc.
QUESTIONS:
In the case of same packaging containing simultaneously meat preparations, sheep meat and pork for final consumer, does Regulation (EU) n°1337/2013 apply in all cases?
Example 1
Four meat types packed together: fresh pork belly, veal cutlet, lamb chop and beef steak.
Different fresh meat origins/provenances:
- Pork – origin: France (the pig was born, raised and slaughtered in FR);
- Lamb – reared and slaughtered in New Zealand;
- Beef – cattle born in Germany, raised in Belgium and slaughtered in France;
- Veal – calf born in Ireland.
What should be the legal basis for the labelling of the origin/provenance?
The Customs legal definition?
But, what is happening if none of the species reaches 51% of the total weight?
CLARIFICATION: For examples 1&2 – Art 5(3) of Regulation (EU) n°1337/2013 is applicable (and for beef Regulation (EU) n°1760/2000): Meat needs to be labelled but not the sausage.
REMINDER: Art 5(3): Where several pieces of meat, of the same or of different species, correspond to different labelling indications in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 and are presented in thesame pack to the consumer or mass caterer, the label shall indicate:(a) the list of the relevant Member States or third countries in accordance with paragraphs 1 or 2, for each species;(b) the batch code identifying the meat supplied to the consumer or mass caterer.
Example 2
Four meat types packed together: fresh pork belly, veal cutlet, lamb chop and beef steak + beef/sheep meat sausages.
Same origins/provenances as above for the fresh meat:
- Pork – origin: France (the pig was born, raised and slaughtered in FR);
- Lamb – reared and slaughtered in New Zealand;
- Beef – cattle born in Germany, raised in Belgium and slaughtered in France;
- Veal – calf born in Ireland.
As regards the sausages, the beef is obtained from a cattle born, raised and slaughtered in France and the sheep meat is originated in New-Zealand.
CLARIFICATION: For examples 1&2 – Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) n°1337/2013is applicable (and for beef Regulation (EU) n°1760/2000): Meat needs to be labelled but not the sausage.
2° Minced meat and trimmings ( pork/lamb/poultry meat)
Article 7 states that a simplified labelling is authorised for the minced meat and the trimmings if they are obtained from meat originated in several Member States.
However, does the simplified labelling also apply for the minced meat or only for the raw material (muscles) from which the minced meat is obtained?
For instance, a French company buys pork minced in Ireland (labelling: raised in Ireland/slaughtered in Ireland), in Italy (labelling: raised in Italy/slaughtered in Italy) and in France (labelling: raised in France/slaughtered in France). It means three batches that are labelled in compliance with the general provisions of the Regulation (EU) n° 1337/2013 as the raw material for the production of the minced meat for each of the three batches was obtained in one Member State.
Is the French company allowed to mix the three batches in one and to ‘EU’ label the final product that will be sold to the final consumer as fresh minced meat?
CLARIFICATION: For the example above – the derogation in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) n°1337/2013is applicable: If minced meat is produced from meat obtained from animals born, reared and slaughtered in different Member States, it is labelled „EU”.
REMINDER: Article 7: Derogations for minced meat and trimmings. By way of derogation from points (a) and (b) of Article 5(1), from Article 5(2) and from Article 6, as regards minced meat and trimmings, the following indications may be applied: (a) ‘Origin: EU’, where minced meat or trimmings are produced exclusively from meat obtained from animals born, reared and slaughtered in different Member States; (b) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: EU’, where minced meat or trimmings are produced exclusively from meat obtained from animals reared and slaughtered in different Member States; (c) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: non-EU’, where minced meat or trimmings are produced exclusively from meat imported into the Union; (d) ‘Reared in: non-EU’ and ‘Slaughtered in: EU’ where minced meat or trimmings are produced exclusively from meat obtained from animals imported into the Union as animals for slaughter and slaughtered in one or different Member States; (e) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: EU and non-EU’ where minced meat or trimmings are produced from: (i) meat obtained from animals reared and slaughtered in one or different Member States and from meat imported into the Union; or (ii) meat obtained from animals imported into the Union and slaughtered in one or different Member States.