FOOD SECTOR
Related links: ABM Abattoir, Cutting, Packing | Beef Labelling | BRC Packaging | BRC Scheme | Ethical Auditing | Organic Certification | Soil Association | PDO/PGI Scheme | Food Chain Security | Assured UK Malt

Beef Labelling Certification

Background to the Beef Labelling Scheme

European legislation (820/97) was introduced in 1998 to guarantee that all beef sold in the EU had control measures in place to ensure that "product claims" made at the point of sale to consumers were true and that the beef was traceable back through the supply chain

The purpose of 820/97 was to restore confidence in the beef industry, demonstrate that beef was from known sources, and to protect consumers from being misled by inaccurate marketing claims.

The Original Beef Labelling Scheme

The scheme was originally due to start in January 1998 throughout Europe, but eventually started in the UK in July 1998.

Initially, it was an entirely voluntary scheme since it did not compel beef suppliers to label the beef they sold with any information in excess of the basic food labelling law (i.e. weight, description etc).

Many beef suppliers throughout the UK applied to become part of the voluntary scheme in order to label their beef with various 'claims' such as:

• Organic
• Grass-fed
• Traditionally matured
• Farm assured
• British
• Irish
• Welsh
• Aberdeen Angus...

Current Beef Labelling Scheme Requirements

The entirely voluntary nature of the scheme was always under consideration and was regarded by many as preparation for the mandatory phase, planned to be introduced in 2000.

In December 1999, the European Council of Ministers extended the operation of the original beef labelling scheme until the 31st August 2000. In April 2000 the Council reached political agreement on a proposed regulation to replace 820/97. This is now subject to negotiation with the European Parliament and is expected to take force from 1st September 2000.

The compulsory system will be introduced in two stages:
From 1st September 2000 (stage 1) labels will have to include:

• A traceability reference number ensuring the link between the meat and the animal
• The category of animal (steer, heifer etc)
• The words "slaughtered in: [Country]"
• The approval number of the slaughterhouse
• The words "Cutting plant: [Country]"
• The approval number of the cutting/deboning plant

From 1st January 2002 (stage 2) labels will have to include all the indications that are compulsory in the first stage and:

• Country of the animal's birth
• Name of all countries in which the animal was raised

Minced Beef
Labels for minced beef will only have to include:

• The traceability reference number or code
• The name of the country in which the beef was minced
• The name of the country in which the animal was slaughtered

Non-EU Origin Beef
Non-EU beef must be labelled with the name of the country of slaughter and the words "Origin: [non-EC]"

Voluntary Claims
There will be a continuation of the present approval and verification system for Retailers wishing to label their beef with non-compulsory indications relating to the method of production, characteristics of the meat or animal from which it was derived and other claims such as the region of origin. Until the 1st of January 2002 national origin claims e.g. "British" will remain subject to approval and verification.

The PAI Ltd Beef Labelling Scheme
PAI was the first UK Certification Body to be approved by UK Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF now DEFRA) and accredited by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to carry out the Beef Labelling Scheme approval.

PAI Ltd carries out the necessary Beef Labelling Scheme approval work for a wide range of retailers, wholesalers, cutting plants and abattoirs, from very small local firms to the big nationals.

PAI Ltd is always able to carry out the assessment, reporting and certification with expert assessors at the most competitive prices.

PAI Ltd is able to react and carry out assessments at short notice to fit in with DEFRA demands for reports and certificates. PAI Ltd is currently carrying out the approval of retailer claims of the following type:

• Where the animal was reared
• Breed or cross-breed
• Age or sex of the animal
• Method of production (e.g. organic, farm assured, grass-fed etc)
• Method of slaughter (e.g. halal, kosher)
• Method of maturation

Scheme Requirements
The scheme requires participant beef suppliers to have a system of product identification and traceability and to employ a Certification Body, accredited to EN 45011 and approved by DEFRA, to certify that the claims are true.

PAI Ltd has developed a formal written scheme (AS.10 Beef Labelling Scheme Criteria). This scheme standard describes the requirements that shall be met by retailers and can be obtained free of charge to PAI Ltd clients (a small charge is made to others).

More Information:
More information can be obtained by either e-mailing PAI Ltd or contacting your local EU member state Department of Agriculture.

Outside Europe, Departments of Agriculture in all countries should be aware of the European Beef Labelling Scheme and be able to supply information.