Guidance Note 17 Meat Labelling

17 GUIDANCE NOTE
Guidance Note No. 17

The Labelling of Meat
and Meat as an Ingredient
(Revision 1)
he Labelling of Meat and Meat
as an Ingredient (Revision 1)
Guidance Note No. 17: T
This is not a legal document. Guidance notes from the Food Safety Authority of
Ireland are intended to help food businesses to comply with their legal obligations.
Guidance Note No. 17
The Labelling of Meat
and Meat as an Ingredient
(Revision 1)
Published by:
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
The Exchange, George’s Dock
IFSC, Dublin 1
D01 P2V6
Tel: +353 1 817 1300

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fsai.ie
©FSAI
2018
Applications for reproduction should be made to the FSAI Information Unit
ISBN 978-1-910348-16-1
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 Aim of document 6
1.2 Scope 6
1.3 Disclaimer 6
2. EU LEGISLATION AND IRISH LAW 7
SECTION A: LABELLING OF MEAT 13
3. LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION RULES 13

3.1 General labelling 13
3.1.1 Mandatory information required for all prepacked foodstuffs 14
3.1.2 Traceability 16
3.1.3 Additional labelling requirements (meat) 17
3.2 Country of origin labelling 18
3.2.1 Country of origin (meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry) 18
3.2.1.1 Derogation for meat from third countries 20
3.2.2 Country of origin derogations for minced meat and trimmings
(swine, sheep, goats and poultry – Regulation 1337/2013) 20
3.2.3 Beef labelling system 20
3.2.3.1 Obligation to keep and maintain records 22
3.2.4 Derogations from the beef labelling system 23
3.2.5 Country of origin labelling – catering establishments, preparing beef
and supplying directly to the final consumer 27
3.3 Health and identification marking (all species) 31
3.3.1 Health marking 31
3.3.2 Identification marking 33
3.4 Specific labelling 35
3.4.1 Minced meat (all species) 35
3.4.2 Meat preparations and mechanically separated meat (MSM) 36
3.4.3 Meat products and meat preparations with added water 36
3.4.4 Veal labelling 36
3.5 Specified risk material labelling regulations for bovine 40
3.6 Poultrymeat labelling 42
3.6.1 Prepacked poultrymeat 43
3.6.2 Loose/non-prepacked poultrymeat 44
3.6.3 Water content of poultrymeat 45
4. TRACEABILITY 46
APPENDIX 1. LOCATION OF HEALTH MARKS ON CARCASES 48
APPENDIX 2. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION OF ID MARK

ON WRAPPING AND PACKAGING 49
APPENDIX 3. SAMPLE WHITE BOARD AND ‘IN-TRAY’ LABELS 50
APPENDIX 4. LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEEF

IN A RETAIL OUTLET 51
SECTION B: LABELLING OF MEAT AS AN INGREDIENT 53
5. LABELLING PROVISIONS 53
5.1 General provisions 53
5.2 Ingredient categories 53
5.3 Definition of meat 53
5.4 Declaration of excess fat and connective tissue 55
5.4.1 Standardisation of fat and connective tissue 55
5.5 Animal species 56
5.6 Exclusions from the definition of meat 56
5.7 Quantitative ingredient declaration (QUID) 58
5.8 Foods with comminuted meat as an ingredient 61
5.9 Compound ingredients 62
5.10 Calculation of meat content 63
6. CALCULATION OF MEAT CONTENT 64

6.1 Introduction 64
6.2 Terminology 65
6.3 Flow diagram for the calculation of meat content 66
6.4 Worked example: meat content calculation – pork liver sausage 67
APPENDIX 5. LIST OF CATEGORIES OF INGREDIENTS WHICH

MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE NAME OF THE
CATEGORY RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIC NAME
(REGULATION (EU) NO. 1169/2011) 83
APPENDIX 6. TYPICAL PERCENTAGE VALUES FOR PROTEIN,

COLLAGEN AND FAT IN MEAT CUTS* 84
7. GLOSSARY 89
5
1. INTRODUCTION
Labelling of meat within the European Union (EU) is regulated by a large number of legislative
instruments. This guidance note provides an overview of the legislative requirements for the
documentation and labelling of all meats (see Section A) and the labelling of meat when used as
an ingredient (see Section B). It is intended to enable those involved in the manufacture, packaging
and selling of meat and meat products to understand the labelling requirements.
1.1 Aim of document
The purpose of this guidance note is to:
• Provide guidance for industry regarding the documentation and labelling required for all
meat
• Provide guidance for enforcement officers
• Provide guidance for calculating the meat content of a meat product
1.2 Scope
The guidance note applies to all meat and foodstuffs that contain meat as an ingredient marketed
in Ireland.
1.3 Disclaimer
This document is intended to act as a guide to the legislation. It does not purport to be
comprehensive or to be a legal interpretation, or to constitute legal or professional advice.
Legislative changes can be expected in the future that will necessitate the update of this guidance
note as appropriate.
6
2. EU LEGISLATION AND IRISH LAW
Table 1 lists the principal European and Irish labelling and traceability rules that apply to meat.
Table 1. European and Irish meat labelling and traceability legislation
European legislation National legislation

General principles of food law
Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 For food businesses supervised by the

laying down the general principles and Health Service Executive (HSE): European
requirements of food law, establishing the Communities (General Food Law)
European Food Safety Authority and laying Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 747 of 2007)
down procedures in matters of food safety
For food businesses supervised by the
Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine; Local Authorities or the
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority:
European Communities (Food and Feed
Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
of 2009 as amended)
Hygiene rules
Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 European Communities (Food and Feed

laying down specific hygiene rules for Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
food of animal origin of 2009 as amended)
Health/identification marking

laying down specific hygiene rules for Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
food of animal origin of 2009 as amended)
Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004
laying down specific rules for the
organisation of official controls on
products of animal origin intended for
human consumption
7
Labelling (provision of food information to consumers, FIC)
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 Health (Provision of Food Allergen

on the provision of food information to Information to Consumers in respect of
consumers, amending Regulations (EC) Non-Prepacked Food) Regulations 2014
No. 1924/2006, and (EC) No. 1925/2006 (S.I. 489 of 2014)
of the European Parliament and of the
Council, and repealing Commission European Union (Provision of Food
Directive 87/250/EC, Council Directive Information to Consumers) Regulations
90/493/EEC, Commission Directive 2014 (S.I. No. 556 of 2014)
1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC, of the European Union (Origin Labelling of Meat)
European Parliament and of the Council, Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 113 of 2015)
Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and
2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation
(EC) No. 608/2004
Microbiological criteria
Commission Regulation (EC) For food businesses supervised by the

No. 2073/2005 on the microbiological HSE: European Union (Microbiological
criteria of foodstuffs Criteria for Foodstuffs) Regulations 2012
(S.I. No. 474 of 2012 as amended)
For food businesses supervised by the
Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine; Local Authorities or Sea-
Fisheries Protection Authority: European
Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene)
Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432 of 2009 as
amended)
Meat as an ingredient
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 European Union (Provision of Food

on the provision of food information to Information to Consumers) Regulations
consumers 2014 (S.I. No. 556 of 2014 as amended).
8
Minced meat labelling
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 European Union (Provision of Food

on the provision of food information to Information to Consumers) Regulation
consumers 2014 (S.I. No. 556/2014)
of the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down specific hygiene rules
for food of animal origin
Regulation (EC) 854/2004 of
the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down specific rules for
the organisation of official controls on
products of animal origin intended for
human consumption
Specified risk material
Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 European Union (Transmissible

laying down rules for the prevention, Spongiform Encephalopathies) Regulation
control and eradication of certain 2015 (S.I. No. 532 of 2015)
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
S.I. 432 of 2009 European Communities
Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (Food and Feed Hygiene Regulations 2009
laying down health rules as regards animal (as amended)
by-products and derived products not
intended for human consumption and
repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002
(Animal by-products Regulation)
Beef and beef products labelling
Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 European Communities (Labelling of Beef

establishing a system for the identification and Beef Products) Regulations 2000
and registration of bovine animals and (S.I. No. 435 of 2000) as amended
regarding the labelling of beef and beef
products and repealing Council Regulation Health (Country of Origin of Beef)
(EC) No. 820/97 as amended by Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 307 of 2006)
Commission Regulation 275/2007 Health (Country of Origin of Beef) as
amended
Commission Regulation (EC)
No. 1825/2000 laying down detailed
rules for the application of Regulation (EC)
No. 1760/2000 as regards the labelling of
beef and beef products
9
Veal
Council Regulation (EC) European Communities (Marketing of

No. 1234/2007 establishing a common meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or
organisation of agricultural markets and on less) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 245
specific provisions for certain agricultural of 2008)
products
Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013
establishing a common organisation of
the markets in agricultural products and
repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No.
992/72, (EEC) No. 234/79, (EC) No.
1037/2001 and (EC) No. 1234/2007
Poultrymeat labelling
Commission Regulation (EC) European Communities (Marketing

No. 543/2008 laying down detailed Standards for Poultrymeat) Regulations
rules for the application of Council 2010 (S.I. No. 328 of 2010)
Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 as regards
the marketing standards for poultrymeat
(as amended)
Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013
establishing a common organisation of
the markets in agricultural products and
repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No.
922/72, (EEC) No. 234/79, (EC) No.
1037/2001 and (EC) No. 1234/2007
Gelatine
Commission Regulation (EU) European Communities (Food and Feed

2016/355 amending Annex III to Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
Regulation (EC) 853/2004 of the European of 2009 as amended)
Parliament and of the Council as regards
the specific requirements for gelatine,
collagen and highly refined products
of animal origin intended for human
consumption
10
European legislation National Legislation
Gelatine
Commission Regulation (EC) European Communities (Food and Feed

No. 2074/2005 laying down Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
implementing measures for certain of 2009 as amended)
products under Regulation (EC) No.
853/2004 of the European Parliament and
of the Council and for the organisation of
official controls under Regulation (EC) No.
of the Council and Regulation (EC) No.
of the Council, derogating from Regulation
(EC) No. 852/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council and
amending Regulations (EC)No. 853/2004
and (EC) No. 854/2004
Collagen

laying down specific hygiene rules for food Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432
of animal origin as amended of 2009 as amended)
11
European legislation National Legislation
Country of origin
Commission Implementing S.I. No. 113 of 2015 – European Union

Regulation (EU) No. 1337/2013 (Origin Labelling of Meat) Regulations
laying down rules for the application of 2015.
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of the
European Parliament and of the Council Health (Country of Origin of Beef)
as regards the indication of the country Regulations 2006 S.I. No. 307 of 2006
of origin or place of provenance for fresh, as amended
chilled and frozen meat of swine, sheep, S.I. No. 435 of 2000 – European
goats and poultry Communities (Labelling of Beef and Beef
Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 of Products Regulations, 2000 as amended)
17 July 2000 establishing a system for the
identification and registration of bovine
animals and regarding the labelling of beef
and beef products and repealing Council
Commission Regulation (EC)
No. 1825/2000 laying down detailed
rules for the application of Regulation (EC)
No. 1760/2000 of the European Parliament
and of the Council as regards the labelling
of beef and beef products
12
SECTION A: LABELLING OF MEAT
3. LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION RULES
3.1 General labelling
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers sets out the
general principles, requirements and responsibilities governing food information and, in particular,
food labelling.
The prime consideration for requiring mandatory food information is to enable consumers to
identify and make appropriate use of a food and to make choices that suit their individual dietary
needs. The provision of food information must pursue a high level of protection of consumer
health and interests by providing a basis for final consumers to make informed choices and to
make safe use of food, with particular regard to health, economic, environmental, social and
ethical considerations.
Food information must be accurate, clear and easy to understand. It must not be misleading,
particularly:
• As to the characteristics of the food and, in particular, as to its nature, identity,

properties, composition, quantity, durability, country of origin or place of provenance,
method of manufacture or production
• By attributing to the food, effects or properties which it does not possess
• By suggesting that the food possesses special characteristics when in fact all similar
foodstuffs possess such characteristics, in particular by specifically emphasising the
presence or absence of certain ingredients and/or nutrients
• By suggesting, by means of the appearance, the description or pictorial representations,
the presence of a particular food or an ingredient while, in reality, a component naturally
present or an ingredient normally used in that food has been substituted with a different
component or different ingredient.
Where do the regulations apply?

Certain criteria must be adhered to regarding the labelling, presentation and advertising of
foodstuffs. These criteria are outlined in Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 and apply to the labelling
of all foods intended for the final consumer, including foods delivered to mass caterers and foods
intended for supply to mass caterers (e.g. restaurants, hospitals, canteens etc.).
13
In the cases outlined in (a) and (b) below, mandatory labelling information (Articles 9 and 10,
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011) must appear on the pre-packaging, on a label attached to the
packaging or on the commercial documents accompanying the food (sent before delivery, or at
the time of delivery):
(a) Where prepacked food is intended for the final consumer, but marketed at a stage prior to
sale to the final consumer and where the sale to mass caterers is not involved at that stage,
e.g. food sold to or from wholesalers or via an intermediary
(b) Where prepacked food is intended for supply to mass caterers for preparation, processing,
splitting or cutting up (e.g. restaurants for preparation, processing, cutting etc.)
However, the name of the food, date of minimum durability, any special storage conditions or
conditions of use, and the name and address of the food business operator responsible for the
food information, must appear on the outer packaging. Label information must be easily visible,
clearly legible and indelible. All the mandatory information must appear in the commercial
documentation.
3.1.1 Mandatory information required for all prepacked foodstuffs

The following list details mandatory information that must appear on the packaging of the
prepacked foodstuffs or on an attached label:
(a) The name of the food1

(b) The list of ingredients
(c) Any ingredient or processing aid listed in Annex II (Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011) or
derived from a substance or product listed in Annex II (Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011)
causing allergies or food intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and
still present in the finished product, even in altered form
(d) The quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredients
(e) The net quantity of the food1
(f) The date of minimum durability (i.e. ‘best-before’ date) or ‘use-by’ date
(g) Any special storage instructions and/or conditions of use
(h) The name or business name and address of the food business operator, i.e. the food
business operator responsible for the food information must be the operator in whose
name or business name the food is marketed or, if that operator is not established in the
EU, the importer in the EU market
14
(i) The country of origin or place of provenance of the foodstuff where failure to indicate
might mislead the consumer2
(j) Instructions for use where it would be difficult to make appropriate use of the food in the
absence of such instructions
(k) With respect to beverages containing more than 1.2% by volume of alcohol, the actual
alcoholic strength by volume1
(l) A nutrition declaration
All of the above, bar (k), will be applicable for prepacked meat products, meat preparations or
products that contain meat as an ingredient. However, for fresh or frozen cuts of meat, many
of the above indications are not required. Therefore, of the above indications the following are
mandatory for prepacked fresh or frozen cuts of meat:
(a) The name of the food1

(e) The net quantity of the food1
(f) The date of minimum durability (i.e. ‘best-before’ date) or ‘use-by’ date (if meat is frozen,
then a ‘frozen-on’ date is also required.
(g) Any special storage instructions and/or conditions of use
(h) The name or business name and address of the food business operator, i.e. the food
business operator responsible for the food information must be the operator in whose
name or business name the food is marketed or, if that operator is not established in the
EU, the importer in the EU market
(i) The country of origin or place of provenance of the foodstuff is mandatory for certain
meats (beef, swine, sheep, goats, poultry); for other species, an indication is mandatory
where failure to indicate might mislead the consumer2
(j) Instructions for use where it would be difficult to make appropriate use of the food in the
absence of such instructions
Note: nutrition information is not mandatory for unprocessed products that comprise a single ingredient
or category of ingredients.
1
These details must appear in the same field of vision on the label.
2
Country of origin: With specific exceptions, including the labelling of beef, fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine, sheep,
goats and poultry, mandatory country of origin labelling is only required when its absence may mislead consumers. See
Section 3.2.
15
3.1.2 Traceability
Food business operators must have in place and use an identification and registration system at
each stage of production and distribution of the following: fresh chilled and frozen meat of swine,
sheep, goats and poultry falling within the respective Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes (listed
in Annex XI to Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011), i.e.:
• CN0203: meat of swine – fresh, chilled or frozen

• CN0204: meat of sheep and goats – fresh, chilled or frozen
• Ex CN0207: meat of poultry of heading 0105 (Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and
guinea fowl) – fresh, chilled or frozen
That system must be applied in such a way as to ensure:
(a) A link between the meat and the animal or group of animals from which it has been
obtained, at the slaughterhouse stage this link being the responsibility of the slaughterhouse
and
(b) The transmission of the information relating to the indications referred to in Article 5
(Labelling of meat, see 3.2.1), Article 6 (Derogation for meat from third countries, see
Section 3.2.1.1) or Article 7 (Derogations for minced meat and trimmings, see Section
3.2.3) of Regulation (EU) No. 1337 of 2013, as appropriate, together with the meat, to the
operators at the subsequent stages of production and distribution.
As regards the labelling of beef and beef products, the labelling system must ensure a link
between, on the one hand, the identification of the carcase, quarter or pieces of meat and, on
the other hand, the individual animal or, where this is sufficient to enable the accuracy of the
information on the label to be checked, the group of animals concerned.
It must be ensured that outlets for sale to the final consumer have available at all times
information on the slaughterhouses at which the animals were slaughtered and the plants at which
the carcases were cut up for the non-prepacked cut beef displayed for sale each day. This ensures
that consumers who so request can be given that information verbally.
16
3.1.3 Additional labelling requirements (meat)
1. Foods whose durability has been extended by packaging in certain gases must be labelled
‘packaged in a protective atmosphere’.
2. Frozen meats and frozen meat preparations must be labelled with the date of freezing. If
the product has been frozen more than once, the date must be that of first freezing.
3. The date of freezing or the date of first freezing where the product has been frozen more
than once must be indicated as follows:
(a) It must be preceded by the words ‘frozen on …’;
(b) The words referred to in point (a) must be accompanied by:
• the date itself, or,

• a reference to where the date is given on the labelling,
(c) T
he date must consist of the day, the month and the year, in that order and in
uncoded form.
4. Poultrymeat which has been frozen or quick-frozen must be sold in that state, or used in
preparations marketed as frozen or quick-frozen, or used in meat products. Regulation
(EU) No. 1308/2013 specifies that poultrymeat and poultrymeat preparations may only be
marketed in one of the following conditions:
• Fresh
• Frozen
• Quick-frozen
5. Meat products and meat preparations which give the impression that they are made of a
whole piece of meat but which actually consist of different pieces combined together by
means of other ingredients, including food additives and food enzymes, or by other means,
must bear the following indication: ‘formed meat’.
17
3.2 Country of origin labelling
3.2.1 Country of origin (meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 1337/2013 lays down rules for the application of
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 as regards the indication of the country of origin or place of
provenance for fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry.
Regulation (EU) No. 1337/2013 requires that food business operators have a traceability system
in place at all stages of production and distribution of the meat, from slaughter to packaging, to
ensure a link between the labelled meat and the animal or group of animals from which that meat
has been obtained.
This legislation specifies that the indication ‘Origin: (name of Member State or third country)’ can
only be used on the meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry if the food business operator proves
to the satisfaction of the competent authority that the meat referred to has been obtained from
animals born, reared and slaughtered in one single Member State or third country.
If the meat does not originate in one single Member State, then the indications required are:
• ‘Reared in: (name of the Member State or third country)’

• ‘Slaughtered in: (name of the Member State or third country)’, and
• The batch code identifying the meat supplied to the consumer or mass caterer.
Reared in
(a) The Member State or third country in which the rearing took place indicated as ‘Reared in’:
(name of Member State or third country)’, in accordance with the following criteria: (see
Table 3):
Swine:
(i)
• Where the animal is slaughtered at older than six months, the Member State or third
country in which the last rearing period of at least four months took place.
• Where the animal is slaughtered at younger than six months and with a live weight of
at least 80 kilograms, the Member State or third country in which the rearing period
after the animal has reached 30 kilograms took place.
• Where the animal is slaughtered at younger than six months and with a live weight of
less than 80 kilograms, the Member State or third country in which the whole rearing
period took place.
18
Sheep and goats:
(ii)
• The Member State or third country in which the last rearing period of at least six
months took place or, where the animal is slaughtered at younger than six months, the
Member State or third country in which the whole rearing took place.
(iii) Poultry:
• The Member State or third country in which the last rearing period of at least one
month took place or, where the animal is slaughtered at younger than one month, the
Member State or third country in which the whole rearing period after the animal was
placed for fattening took place.
Where the rearing period referred to in (i) – (iii) is not attained in any of the Member States
or third countries where the animal was reared, the indication referred in (i) – (iii) may be
replaced by:
• ‘Reared in: several Member States of the EU’ or

• Where the meat or the animals have been imported into the EU, by ‘Reared in:
several EU and non-EU countries’ or ‘Reared in: (list of the Member States or third
countries where the animal was reared’.
However, where the rearing period referred to in (i) – (iii) is not attained in any of the Member
States or third countries where the animal was reared, the indication referred to in (i) – (iii) may
be replaced by ‘Reared in: (list of the Member States or third countries where the animal was
reared)’.
Where several pieces of meat, of the same or of different species, correspond to different labelling
indications in accordance with country of origin labelling (meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry)
and are presented in the same pack to the consumer or mass caterer, the label must indicate:
• The list of the relevant Member States or third countries, in accordance with the
requirements set out in the Regulation for each species
• The batch code identifying the meat supplied to the consumer or mass caterer
19
3.2.1.1 Derogation for meat from third countries
By way of derogation from 3.2.1 (a) above, for which the information required in point (a) is not
available, must contain the indication ‘Reared in: non-EU’ and ‘Slaughtered in: (Name of the third
country where the animal was slaughtered)’.
3.2.2 Country of origin derogations for minced meat and trimmings (swine, sheep,
goats and poultry – Regulation 1337/2013)
The following derogations may be applied:
(a) ‘Origin EU’, where 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 EU;
(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 EU 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 EU; or
(ii) Meat obtained from animals imported into the EU and slaughtered in one or different
Member States.
3.2.3 Beef labelling system

The Beef Labelling Regulations (Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000) apply to fresh beef, frozen beef
and minced beef. Labelling information must be applied to or attached to individual pieces of meat
or to their packaging material. Where beef is not wrapped, some information is required to be
provided in a written and visible form to the consumer at point of sale.
These regulations do not apply to meat preparations, meat products and offal. Table 2 illustrates
examples of the types of beef to which the beef labelling regulations apply and do not apply.
20
Table 2. E
xamples of the types of beef to which the Beef Labelling
Regulations apply and do not apply
Do apply Do NOT apply
Fresh cuts of beef Beef sausages
Frozen beef Beef pieces with added ingredients
Minced beef Stir-fry beef
99% beef burgers Beef burgers with ingredients
(i.e. which have up to 1% salt)
100% beef burgers Cooked or processed beef
Offal
The Beef Labelling Regulations require a mandatory traceability system for all EU bovine animals
from farm to slaughterhouse, and a mandatory system of traceability and origin labelling for
beef, from slaughterhouse to end consumer.
The Regulations apply to all fresh or frozen beef, either carcases, de-boned meat, cut meat or
minced meat, which is marketed in the EU.
The Regulations require operators to label beef with specific information at all stages of
marketing, up to and including the point of sale to the consumer.
What information is required?

Under the beef labelling system, all operators and organisations marketing beef must include
(a), (b), (c) and (d), as detailed below, on the label for prepacked beef, or in written and visible
form to the consumer at the point of sale (beef sold unpackaged – e.g. at a butcher’s counter).
(a) Reference/traceability code or batch number, which must ensure a link between
the meat and the animal or group of animals concerned.
(b) Approval number of the slaughterhouse at which the animal or group of animals
was slaughtered and the Member State or third country in which the slaughterhouse
is established, e.g. ‘Slaughtered in Ireland 123’
(c) Approval number of the cutting hall that performed the cutting operation on
the carcase/carcases and the Member State or third country in which the hall is
established, e.g. ‘Cutting in Ireland 456’.
21
(d) Origin of the beef. (See Table 4).
(i) If the beef is derived from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the
same Member State/third country, the name of the Member State/third country
is sufficient, e.g. ‘Origin, Ireland’.
(ii) If the beef is derived from animals born, reared and slaughtered in different
Member States/third countries, the label must show the Member State/third
country of birth, all Member States/third countries where fattening took place and the
Member State/third country where slaughter took place, e.g. ‘Born in France’, ‘Reared
in France’, ‘Slaughtered in Ireland’.
See Appendix 3 for sample white board and an ‘in-tray’ label and Appendix 4 for labelling
requirements for beef in a retail outlet.
3.2.3.1 Obligation to keep and maintain records

Operators and organisations are required to prepare and keep up to date a written plan detailing
the procedures used to ensure that the information indicated on their labels on beef and beef
products are accurate. A copy of the plan must be retained for inspection by an authorised officer
appointed under S.I. No. 435 of 2000 (as amended). Operators and organisations must retain, for
a period of at least two years, all documents or systems records relating to beef labelling.
These documents must be presented for inspection to an authorised officer when requested to
do so.
22
3.2.4 Derogations from the beef labelling system
1. Minced beef:
Minced beef labels must contain the following labelling information:

• A traceability number/reference code, which links the meat to the animal or animals it
came from.
• The words ‘Prepared in (name of Member State/third country)’. The Member State or
third country is the country where the mincing took place.
• The words ‘Slaughtered in (name of Member State/third Country)’. The Member State
or third country is where the animals that produced the beef were born and reared, if
they are different from the Member State of preparation.
• The word ‘Origin’ followed by the Member State/third Country when the animal was
born, reared and slaughtered in the same country, e.g. Origin: Ireland where the State or
States involved is/are not the State of preparation.
• If the beef is derived from animals from different countries, the label must indicate:
o Country of birth
o Country (or countries) of fattening/rearing
o Country of slaughter
Minced beef labels may also contain one or more of the indications listed below:
• The approval number of the slaughterhouse at which the animal/animals were slaughtered
and the Member States/third country in which the slaughterhouse is established,
e.g. ‘Slaughtered in Ireland 123’.
• The approval number of the cutting hall and the name of the Member States/third
country in which the cutting hall is established, e.g. ‘Cutting in Ireland 123’
• The date of mincing
• Member State or third country of birth
• All Member States or third countries where fattening took place
• Voluntary information
When the beef is not wrapped, the relevant information must be provided in written form such
as will be visible to the consumer at the point of sale.
23
2. Beef trimmings:
By way of derogation from Regulation (EC) 1760/2000, Article 13(2)(b) (i.e. indicate slaughterhouse
approval number) and (c) (i.e. indicate cutting plant approval number) and 5(a)(i) (i.e. Member
State or third country of birth) and (ii) (i.e. all Member States or third countries where fattening
took place), operators and organisations must indicate on the labels of trimmings:
(a) The country of slaughter of the animals from which the trimmings came. The indication
must read: ‘Slaughtered in (name of the Member State or third country of slaughter)’;
(b) The country in which the trimmings were produced and the approval number of the plant
at which they were produced. The indication must read: ‘Produced in (name of the Member
State or third country of production and approval number of the plant)’;
(c) The countries in which the animals constituting the group were born and reared. The
indication must read: ‘Born and reared in (names of the countries in which the animals were
born and reared)’.
By way of derogation from (a) and (c) above, where the animals in the group were born, reared
and slaughtered in the same country, operators must be authorised to use the indication ‘Country
of origin:’ followed by the name of the Member State or third country in which the animals were
born, reared and slaughtered.
3. Pre-packed cut beef: (animals slaughtered in one or more slaughterhouses, and/or cutting
of the meat in one or more cutting plants)
By way of derogation from Article 13(2)(b) (i.e. indicate slaughterhouse approval number) and
(c) (i.e. indicate cutting plant approval number) of Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000.
The country of rearing will be the country where the animal spent the longest period of time. If an animal spent less than
1
30 days in a country, it is not required to state this country on the label (see Table 4).
24
For those operators who make use of the derogation on further cutting of meat, using meat of
animals slaughtered at a maximum of three different slaughterhouses and from carcases cut up
at a maximum of three different cutting plants. Such operators are required to list the following
information, as well as that listed in Article 13(5)(a) (i.e. country/countries where the animal was
born, reared and slaughtered):
(a) the country of slaughter of the animals, followed by the approval number of the
slaughterhouse or, where appropriate, the two or three slaughterhouses at which the
animals constituting the group were slaughtered. The indication must read: ‘Animals in the
group slaughtered in (name of the Member State or third country of slaughter) (approval
number(s) of the slaughterhouse or the two or three slaughterhouses concerned)’.
(b) the country in which the carcases were cut up, followed by the approval number of the
cutting plant or, where appropriate, the two or three cutting plants at which the carcases
were cut up. The indication must read: ‘Cutting of meat in batch in: (name of the Member
State or third country in which meat was cut up) (approval number(s) of the plant or the
two or three plants concerned)’.
4. Non-prepacked cut beef: (meat of animals born and/or reared and/or slaughtered in
different countries)
(i) T
he compulsory labelling system must ensure a link between, on the one hand, the identification
of the carcase, quarter or pieces of meat and, on the other hand, the individual animal or,
where this is sufficient to enable the accuracy of the labelling information to be checked, the
group of animals concerned. The size of this group of animals must be defined:
(a) during the cutting of carcases or quarters, by the number of carcases or quarters cut
together and constituting one batch for the cutting plant concerned;
(b) during further cutting or mincing, by the number of carcases or quarters whose meat
constitutes one batch for the cutting or mincing plant concerned
The size of the group may not, in any case, exceed the production of one day.
25
When constituting the batches mentioned above,
(c) All carcases or quarters in a batch cut together must be of animals born in the same
country, reared in the same country or countries and slaughtered in the same country and
at the same slaughterhouse.
(d) All carcases from which meat in a batch undergoes further cutting must comply with point
(c) above and must have been cut up at the same cutting plant.
By way of derogation from the requirement regarding the same slaughterhouse and the same
cutting plant laid down in (d) above, during the production of cut meat, operators must be
authorised to constitute batches from meat of animals slaughtered at a maximum of three
different slaughterhouses and from carcases cut up at a maximum of three different cutting plants.
(ii) B
y way of derogation from Article 13(2)(b) (i.e. indicate slaughterhouse approval number)
and (c) (i.e. indicate cutting plant approval number) of Regulation (EC) No.1760/2000, all
non-prepackaged cut meats displayed for sale must indicate at the point of sale to the final
consumer the name of the country in which the animals from which the meat came were
born, reared and slaughtered, followed by the name of the country in which the carcases were
cut up.
Meat of animals born and/or reared and/or slaughtered in different countries must be clearly
separated when displayed for sale.
Information must be displayed in the sale outlet near such meats so as to allow the final consumer
to distinguish easily between meat from different origins.
Operators who display non-prepacked cut meats together for sale each day must record, with
the date, the approval numbers of the slaughterhouses in which the animals were slaughtered and
of the cutting plants in which the carcases were cut up. They must provide that information to
consumers who so request.
(iii) B
y way of derogation from the second subparagraph of Regulation 1825/2000, Article 4(1)
(i.e. 3.2.4.4.1 above) ‘Size and composition of a group’, and providing that the requirements
laid down in paragraph 2 of that Article are met, in the case of non-prepacked cut beef and/
or veal displayed for sale to the final consumer, the size of the group may exceed one day’s
production.
26
5. Beef from third countries
Beef imported into the EU for which not all of the information referred to above is available must
be labelled with the wording: ‘Origin: non-EU’ and ‘Slaughtered in: (name of third country)’.
For meat derived from animals imported live into the EU where there is no information regarding
the place of birth and/or the place of rearing, the label must state: ‘Live import into the EU’ or
‘Live import from (name of third country)’.
6. Animals from Member States and third countries

Beef derived from animals that have been reared for 30 days or less in (a) the country of birth or
(b) the country of slaughter is not required to have this country on the label, provided that the
animal has been reared for a period longer than 30 days in another country. This means that the
country where the animal spent the longest period of time is what appears on the label.
3.2.5 Country of origin labelling – catering establishments, preparing beef

and supplying directly to the final consumer
The Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 307 of 2006 as amended)
require caterers to provide country of origin information for beef sold on their premises to their
customers.
The Regulations relate to caterers who are food business operators providing prepared beef
directly to the final consumer. This includes:
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Public houses providing food
• Sandwich bars
• Canteens
• Healthcare establishments
• Catering service providers
• Takeaway food service outlets
27
The caterer must provide the country/countries of origin information to the customer in at least
one of the following ways:
• On the menu presented to the customer
• As a clearly visible sign/board in the window/door/outside of the premises
• As a clearly visible sign/board inside the establishment
The information must be in clear and legible type. In the case of print, the lettering used must
be of no less than 12-point font size. Advertisements referring to beef sold in the establishment
must also provide information on the country of origin.
The information provided must include the country (or countries if there is more than one) in
which the animal was born, reared (fattened) and slaughtered.
For example:
• If the beef is from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the same country, the name of
the country is sufficient: e.g. ‘All steak in our restaurant is of Irish origin.’
• If the beef is from animals born, reared and slaughtered in different countries, the
information must specify the different countries involved: e.g. ‘The minced beef in this
establishment is from animals born in France, reared in France and slaughtered in Ireland.’
Where beef from more than one source is supplied to the establishment, the origin information
for all beef must be provided, e.g. if a caterer is supplied with beef from two countries (where the
animal(s) concerned were each born, reared and slaughtered in the same country) the information
could be given as: ‘The origin of the beef steak, minced beef and beef in pies in this establishment
is Ireland and France.’
However, where the caterer is supplied with beef from more than one source and there are
different countries of birth, rearing and slaughter, all the information for each must be provided,
e.g. ‘Beef served in this establishment is from two sources. Country of origin of roast beef:
Ireland, and origin of steak: born in Belgium, reared in France, slaughtered in France’.
Where the beef is from more than one source, the Regulations do not stipulate that the origin
information must be specific to each item on the menu, but it is recommended good practice that
where the information is specified on the menu, it should be provided beside each dish.
The Regulations require that traceability information validating the country of origin information
must be retained for at least two years. This information must be available to environmental
health officers (EHOs) on request.
28
Table 3. S
howing how to identify the country of rearing that must appear
on the labelling of meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry
(Regulation (EU) No. 1337/2013)
Swine Sheep and goats Poultry
Slaughtered at over six Slaughtered at over Slaughtered at over

months: the country where six months: the one month: the country
the last rearing period of country where the last where the last rearing
at least four months took rearing period of at least period of at least one
place. six months took place. month took place.
Slaughtered at under six Slaughtered at under Slaughtered at under

months, with live weight six months: the one month: the country
of at least 80 kg: the country where the whole where the whole rearing
country where the animal rearing period took period after the animal was
was reared since it weighed place. placed for fattening took
30 kg. place.
Slaughtered at under six N/A N/A

months, with live weight
below 80 kg: the country
where the whole rearing
period took place.
29
Table 4. S
howing how to identify the country of rearing that must appear
on the labelling of beef (Regulation (EC) 1760/2000 and Regulation
(EC) 1825/2000)
Beef
With respect to country of rearing, operators and organisations must

indicate on the labels (i) Member State (MS) or third country of birth (ii) all MSs or
third countries where fattening took place (iii) MS or third country where slaughter
took place.
However, where the beef is derived from animals born, reared and
slaughtered: (i) in the same MS, the indication may be given as Origin: (name of MS)
(ii) in the same third country, the indication may be given as Origin: (name of third
country).
With respect to animals which have been

• reared for 30 days or less in the Member State or third country of birth
or
• reared in the Member State or third country where slaughter took place
the indication of those Member States or third countries, as a MS or third country
where rearing took place, is not required, provided that those animals were reared
in another MS or third country for a period longer than 30 days.
With respect to meat derived from animals imported live into the EU,
where information concerning the place of birth and/or the place of rearing,
other than the last place of rearing, is not available the indication of the place
of birth and/or place of rearing must be replaced by: the indication ‘*(Live import into
the EC)’ or ‘*(Live import from [name of third country])’.
30
3.3 Health and identification marking (all species)
Food business operators must not place on the market a product of animal origin handled in
an establishment subject to approval in accordance with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No.
853/2004 unless it has either:
(a) a health mark applied in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004, or
(b) when that Regulation does not provide for the application of a health mark, an
identification mark applied in accordance with Annex II, Section I, Regulation (EC)
No. 853/2004.
3.3.1 Health marking

Health marks are applied to carcases, sides and quarters of domestic ungulates, farmed game
mammals other than lagomorphs, and large wild game which have passed ante-mortem and post-
mortem inspection. The application and control of the health mark is the responsibility of the
official veterinarian.
Food business operators must not remove a health mark applied in accordance with Regulation
(EC) No. 854/2004 from meat unless they cut or process it or work upon it in another manner.
The requirements for health marks are set out in Annex I, Section I, Chapter III, Regulation (EC)
No. 854/2004. The health mark must be an oval mark at least 6.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm high, bearing
the following information in perfectly legible characters:
• The country in which the establishment is located. This may be written in full in capital
letters or shown as a two-letter code in accordance with the relevant ISO standard (see
Table 5)
• The approval number of the slaughterhouse, and
• When applied in a slaughterhouse within the EU, the mark must include the abbreviation
CE, EC, EF, EG, EK, EO, EY, ES, EÜ, EK, EB EZ or WE. (Irish establishments would
generally use EC).
Letters must be at least 0.8 cm high and figures at least 1 cm high. The dimensions and characters
of the mark may be reduced for health marking of lamb, kids and piglets.
The colours used for health marking must be authorised in accordance with EU rules on the use
of colouring substances in foodstuffs.
The health mark may also include an indication of the official veterinarian who carried out the
health inspection of the meat.
31
Meat from unskinned wild game cannot bear a health mark unless, after skinning in a game
handling establishment, it has undergone post-mortem inspection and has been declared fit
for human consumption. This chapter is to apply without prejudice to animal health rules on
health marking.
Example of a health mark:
IE
123
EC
Table 5. A
list of the code and the corresponding Member State
which must appear on a health and identification marking
Code Member State Code Member State

AT Austria IE Ireland
BE Belgium IT Italy
BG Bulgaria LT Lithuania
CY Cyprus LU Luxembourg
CZ Czech Republic LV Latvia
DK Denmark MT Malta
DE Germany NL Netherlands
EE Estonia PL Poland
ES Spain PT Portugal
FI Finland RO Romania
FR France SI Slovenia
GR Greece SK Slovakia
HU Hungary SE Sweden
HR Croatia UK United Kingdom
32
3.3.2 Identification marking
Food business operators may apply an identification mark to a product of animal origin only
if the product has been manufactured in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 in
registered and approved establishments (meeting the requirements of Article 4, Regulation (EC)
No. 853/2004).
The application of the identification mark is the responsibility of the food business operator.
The identification mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment of
production. If a product’s packaging and/or wrapping is removed, or it is further processed in
another establishment, a new mark must be applied to the product. In such cases, the new
mark must indicate the approval number of the establishment where the operations take place.
The identification mark must:

• Be legible, indelible, and the characters must be easily decipherable
• Be clearly displayed for the competent authorities
• Indicate the name of the country in which the establishment is located, which may be
written out in full or shown as a two-letter code in accordance with the relevant ISO
standard (see Table 5)
• Indicate the approval number of the establishment. When the identification mark is
applied in an establishment located within the EU, the mark must be oval in shape and
include the abbreviation CE, EC, EF, EG, EK, EO, EY, ES, EÜ, EK, EB, EZ or WE. Irish
establishments would generally use EC.
If an establishment manufactures both food to which this Regulation applies and food to which
it does not, the food business operator may apply the same identification mark to both types of
food.
33
Method of identification marking
The mark may, depending on the presentation of different products of animal origin, be applied
directly to the product, the wrapping or the packaging, or be printed on a label affixed to the
product, the wrapping or the packaging. The mark may also be an irremovable tag made of a
resistant material.
The identification mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment. However,
when a product’s packaging and/or wrapping is removed, or it is further processed in another
establishment, a new mark must be applied to the product. In such cases, the new mark must
indicate the approval number of the establishment where these operations take place.
In the case of packaging containing cut meat or offal, the mark must be applied to a label fixed to
the packaging, or printed on the packaging, in such a way that it is destroyed when the packaging
is opened. This is not necessary, however, if the process of opening destroys the packaging. When
wrapping provides the same protection as packaging, the label may be affixed to the wrapping.
For products of animal origin that are placed in transport containers or large packages and that
are intended for further handling, processing, wrapping or packaging in another establishment,
the mark may be applied to the external surface of the container or packaging. When products
of animal origin are placed in a package destined for direct supply to the final consumer, it is
sufficient to apply the mark to the exterior of that package only. When the mark is applied
directly to products of animal origin, the colours used must be authorised in accordance with EU
rules on the use of colouring substances in foodstuffs when applying a health mark to fresh meat.
See Regulation 1333/2008, Annex II.
34
3.4 Specific labelling
3.4.1 Minced meat (all species)

Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 regulating the production and placing on the market of minced
meat and meat preparations was implemented by European Communities (Food and Feed
Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432 of 2009 as amended). Minced meat must meet the criteria
in Regulation (EC) 853/2004, Section V, Chapter III, 1 and 2 to be classified as minced meat.
Minced meat, meat preparations and meat products (except for minced meat, meat preparations
and meat products made from poultrymeat) supplied in packages intended for supply to the final
consumer must be clearly labelled by the manufacturer so as to inform the consumer of the need
for thorough cooking prior to consumption.
Specific requirements concerning the designation of ‘minced meat’ are described in Part B, Annex
VI of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 and are presented in Table 6 below.
Table 6. Composition criteria checked on the basis of a daily average
Fat content Collagen/meat

protein ratio(1)
Lean minced meat ≤7% ≤12%
Minced pure beef ≤20% ≤15%
Minced meat containing pig meat ≤30% ≤18%
Minced meat of other species ≤25% ≤15%
The collagen/meat protein ratio expressed as the percentage of collagen in meat protein. The collagen content means the
(1)
hydroxyproline content multiplied by a factor of 8.
In addition to the requirements laid down in Chapter IV of Section V of Annex III to Regulation
(EC) No. 853/2004, the following expressions must appear on the labelling:
• ‘percentage of fat content under…’,
• ‘collagen/meat protein ratio under…’.
35
3.4.2 Meat preparations and mechanically separated meat (MSM)
All types of products covered by the definition of ‘mechanically separated meat’, as defined in
Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, must be labelled as such with the name(s) of the animal
species from which they come (Annex VII, Part B of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011).
Minced meat, meat preparations and meat products (except for minced meat, meat preparations
and meat products made from poultrymeat) supplied in packages intended for supply to the final
consumer must be clearly labelled by the manufacturer so as to inform the consumer of the need
for thorough cooking prior to consumption.
3.4.3 Meat products and meat preparations with added water

In the case of meat products and meat preparations which have the appearance of a cut, joint,
slice, portion or carcase of meat, the name of the food must include an indication of the presence
of added water if the added water makes up more than 5% of the weight of the finished product.
Processed meat cuts which contain less than 5% added water and where the anatomical structure
of the meat is clearly recognisable to the consumer are also exempt, e.g. ‘chicken breast in
breadcrumbs’. However, meat cuts used as ingredients in composite meat products which are
processed and no longer are recognisable to the consumer are not exempt and must adhere to
the definition of meat and meat content limits.
3.4.4 Veal labelling

Regulation (EC) No. 1308/2013 lays down the conditions for the marketing of the meat of bovine
animals aged less than 12 months, and the sales descriptions that must be used. It is applicable
to carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, intended for human
consumption, obtained from bovine animals aged 12 months or less, presented fresh, frozen or
deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed.
On slaughter, these animals must be classified as either:

• Category V: bovine animals aged eight months or less. Category identification letter: V
• Category Z: bovine animals aged more than eight months but not more than 12
months. Category identification letter: Z
This classification must be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the passport
accompanying the bovine animals or, failing this, on the basis of the data contained in the
computerised database, Animal Identification and Movement System (AIMS).
36
Sales descriptions
Meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less can only be marketed in EU Member States under
the sales description(s) laid down for each Member State. In the case of Ireland, the following
sales descriptions must be used:
• Category V: ‘veal’
• Category Z: ‘rosé veal’
These sales descriptions may be supplemented by an indication of the name or designation of the
pieces of meat or offal concerned. The term ‘veal’, must not be used in a sales description or be
indicated on the labelling of the meat of bovine animals aged more than 12 months.
Compulsory label information

At each stage of production and marketing, operators must label the meat of bovine animals aged
12 months or less with the age of the animals on slaughter and the relevant sales description:
• For animals aged eight months or less:
o Age on slaughter: up to eight months. Sales description: Veal
• For animals aged more than eight months but not more than 12 months:
o Age on slaughter: from eight to 12 months. Sales description: Rosé Veal.
By way of derogation, operators may use the category identification letter (i.e. ‘Category V’ or
‘Category Z’) instead of age at each stage of production and marketing, except on release to the
final consumer.
Supplementary label information

Operators wishing to supplement the compulsory information must do so in accordance with
Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011.
37
Recording information
At each stage of production and marketing of veal, operators must record the following
information:
(a) An identification number and the date of birth of the animals, slaughterhouse level only
(b) A reference number making it possible to establish a link between, on the one hand, the
identification of the animals from which the meat originates and, on the other hand, the
sales description, the age on slaughter and the category identification letter given on the
meat label
(c) The date of arrival and departure of the animals and meat in the establishment, to ensure
that a correlation between arrivals and departures is established.
38
Table 7. Summary of requirements for beef cuts labelling at retail level
= indicate on board/tray etc. = indicate on label = may be indicated
NON-PREPACKED PREPACKED
Animals Animals Animals Animals Minced beef
from same from from same from
Member different Member different
State/ Member State/ Member
country States/ country States/
countries countries
Reference/traceability code
or batch number
Approval number of
slaughterhouse
Member State/third country

of the slaughterhouse
Approval number of the cutting

hall
Member State/third country

of the cutting hall
‘Origin: name of country’
‘Born in… name of Member

State/ third country’
‘Reared in… name of Member

State/third country’
‘Slaughtered in… name of

Member State/third country’
‘Prepared in… name of country’
Date on which meat was

prepared
Protein/collagen ratio and fat

content
(if frozen) ‘Frozen on …’
39
3.5. Specified risk material labelling regulations for bovine
Specified risk material (SRM) refers to a group of tissues and organs of animals which have been
shown to have the potential to transmit diseases such as BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).
Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 (as amended) lays down rules for the prevention, control and
eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in animals. It applies to the
production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin and in certain
specific cases to exports of live animals and products of animal origin.
Definition of specified risk material

The following tissues must be designated as specified risk material if they come from animals
whose origin is in a Member State or third country or of one of their regions with a controlled
or undetermined BSE risk:
Bovine animals:
• The skull excluding the mandible and including the brain and eyes, and the spinal cord of
animals over 12 months of age
• The vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse
processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the median sacral crest and
wings of the sacrum, but including the dorsal root ganglia of animals over 30 months of
age
• The tonsils, the last four metres of the small intestine, the caecum and the mesentery of
animals of all ages.
Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 requires that specified risk material is removed and disposed of in
a manner which avoids any risk to human or animal health. SRM is to be removed and disposed
of in accordance with Annex V of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 (as amended) and Article 12 of
Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009.
Identification, storage and documentation of SRM

The vertebral column of bovine animals over 30 months of age must be removed as SRM and must
not be present in cuts of meat for supply to consumers. Specifically, the vertebral body (the short
thick part of the 'T'), including the first inch of the transverse process (the long tapering part of
the 'T'), must be removed from cuts supplied to the consumer, when derived from animals over
30 months of age. It is therefore not permitted to sell a cut containing the traditional 'T' of bone
from animals over 30 months of age. It is permitted to cut meat for human consumption from
this area in animals over 30 months of age, but it must not contain these SRM bones.
40
Both European and national legislation requires that retail outlets which handle, remove and store
SRM be specifically authorised. In terms of labelling and documentation, retail butchers must have
a system in place whereby any SRM vertebral column can be clearly identified. See below for
details of the requirements relating to labelling and documentation. A control system must be
put in place for the removal of the vertebral column as specified in point 3.5 above. That control
system must include at least the following:
RED STRIPE: At intake, all sides or wholesale cuts of beef containing vertebral column must have
a label which would enable judgement of whether or not they are over 30 months of age and
thus containing SRM. Since 1 July 2017, beef carcase labels on animals over 30 months of
age must have a red stripe.
BLUE STRIPE: Prior to 30 June 2017, a blue stripe was used to identify carcases under 30 months
of age where removal of vertebral column was not required. This has now been replaced by the
red stripe as set out above. However, food business operators can continue to use the blue stripe
on carcases under 30 months of age for their own purposes.
DOCUMENTATION: At intake, a document must accompany the meat, indicating whether any
vertebral column in beef sides or wholesale cuts is SRM or not. For example, an invoice might
read ‘Sides of beef from animals under 30 months of age’, ‘Sides of beef from animals over 30
months of age’ or ‘Sides of beef with vertebral column which is not SRM’ or ‘Sides of beef with
vertebral column which must be removed as SRM’. This documentation must be kept for a period
of one year.
Where applicable, specific information on the number of bovine carcases or wholesale cuts
of carcases, from which the removal of the vertebral column is required, must be added on
the commercial document relating to consignments of meat. Where applicable, that specific
information must be added to the Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) referred to in
Article 2(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 136/2004 in the case of imports. Butcher shops
must keep, for at least one year, the commercial documents referred to here.
Further detailed information on handling SRM at retail level can be found on the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland (FSAI) website at the following link: fsai.ie/faq/srm_authorisation.html
41
3.6 Poultrymeat labelling
See Section 3.2 Country of origin labelling (meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry).
Annex VII, Part V of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2008 applies in relation to the marketing within
the EU by way of business or trade, of certain types and presentations of poultrymeat, and
poultrymeat or poultry offal preparations and products of the following species:
• Domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)
• Ducks
• Geese
• Turkeys
• Guinea fowl
These species are defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008.
Such poultrymeat cannot be marketed within the EU by way of business or trade unless it satisfies
the marketing standards for poultrymeat. Regulation 1308/2008 requires that poultrymeat is
marketed in one of the following conditions:
• Fresh
• Frozen
• Quick-frozen
Poultrymeat which has been frozen or quick-frozen must be sold in that state or be used in
preparations marketed as frozen or quick-frozen, or in meat products, i.e. only poultrymeat which
has not been stiffened at any time by the cooling process prior to being kept at a temperature not
below – 2 oC and not higher than + 4 oC can be marketed as ‘fresh poultrymeat’.
Regulation 1308/2008 does not currently apply to:

• Poultrymeat preparations, e.g. chicken nuggets, chicken burgers, chicken sausages
• Delayed eviscerated poultry as referred to in Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, e.g. New
York Dressed (NYD) Poultry. (NYD poultry is not eviscerated immediately after
slaughter and is sold in carcase form to the retailer or consumer.)
• The direct supply of small quantities of poultrymeat in accordance with Article 1(3) (d) of
Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 by a producer with an annual production of under 10,000
birds
• Poultrymeat for export from the EU.
42
Poultrymeat marketed in the EU must be graded for quality and weight, and marketed, packed,
labelled, transported and presented for sale in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation
1308/2008.
3.6.1 Prepacked poultrymeat

In addition to complying with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, the labelling,
presentation and advertising of poultrymeat intended for the final consumer must also comply
with requirements as set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008.
In the case of prepacked poultrymeat, the following must also appear on the pre-packaging or on
an attached label:
• The ‘use-by’ date (fresh poultrymeat). This indication must be followed by a description
of the storage conditions that must be observed.
• The class (i.e. Class A or B)
• Total price and the price per weight unit at retail stage (fresh poultrymeat)
• The condition in which the poultry is marketed (i.e. fresh, frozen, quick-frozen) and the
recommended storage temperature
• Registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant in accordance with Article 4 of
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, except in the case of cutting and boning at
the place of sale as provided for in Article 4(2)(d) of that Regulation
• An indication of the country of origin in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 1337/2013
(see Section 3.2).
By way of derogation from Article 3(5) (i.e. poultrymeat class) and paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article
5 (indicate ‘use-by’ date, for fresh prepacked poultrymeat; indicate class, total price and price
per weight unit, indicate condition fresh, frozen or quick-frozen) of Commission Regulation (EC)
No. 543/2008, it is not necessary to classify poultrymeat or to indicate the additional particulars
referred to in those Articles in the case of deliveries to cutting or processing establishments.
43
Article 11 under Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 allows for the use of certain terms on the
labelling of poultrymeat if the relevant conditions (specified in Annex V of the same Regulation)
are fulfilled. These terms are:
• ‘Fed with ___ % of___’
• ‘Extensive indoor’ (‘Barn reared’)
• ‘Free range’
• ‘Traditional free range’
• ‘Free range – total freedom’
These terms may be supplemented by indications referring to the particular characteristics of the
respective types of farming. Where claims concerning types of farming (e.g. free range) are made
on poultry labels, it is necessary that the producer and processor of the poultry be registered for
this purpose with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
3.6.2 Loose/non-prepacked poultrymeat

The following information must be provided for poultrymeat sold loose/without packaging or
packed on the premises from which they are sold:
• The class (i.e. Class A or B)
• The price per weight unit at the retail stage
• The condition in which the poultrymeat is marketed (i.e. fresh, frozen or quick-frozen)
• The registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant
• In the case of poultrymeat imported from third countries (i.e. from outside the EU), an
indication of the country of origin
• The ‘use-by’ date in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011. This
indication must be followed by a description of the storage conditions which must be
observed.
44
3.6.3 Water content of poultrymeat
Commission Regulation (EC) 543/2008 requires slaughterhouses to comply with specific
requirements with respect to water content of frozen and quick-frozen chickens, and certain
fresh and frozen chicken and turkey cuts.
The legislation lays down limits for the technically unavoidable water content, which may arise
during the processing of the poultrymeat, and for total water absorbed during the chilling process.
If the water content does not comply with the legislation, the competent authority may allow the
batch to be marketed on condition that both the individual and bulk packaging of the carcases
concerned are marked by the slaughterhouse, under the supervision of the competent authority,
with a tape or label stating ‘Water content exceeds EC limit’ in red capital letters.
This wording must be visible, clearly legible and indelible. The letters must be at least 1 cm high
on the individual packaging and 2 cm high on bulk packaging.
Treatment of poultrymeat to promote water retention

Poultrymeat treated specifically to promote water retention must not be placed on the market as
fresh meat but as meat preparations, or used for the production of processed products.
45
4. TRACEABILITY
Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 lays down the general principles and requirements of food law,
establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food
safety. Article 18 of this Regulation requires the following:
• Food and feed business operators must be able to identify any person from whom
they have been supplied with a food, a feed, a food-producing animal, or any substance
intended to be or expected to be incorporated into a food or feed. To this end, such
operators must have in place, systems and procedures which allow for this information to
be made available to the competent authorities on demand.
• Food and feed business operators must have in place systems and procedures to identify
the other businesses to which their products have been supplied. This information must
be made available to the competent authorities on demand.
The various meat Regulations closely link traceability and labelling in regard to the origin of
the product. The intention of the legislator was clearly to provide the consumer with all the
information about the origin and locations where processing steps have taken place. Traceability
for the marketing of meat can be done on a paper-based system or electronic system.
The traceability system developed by a food business must be documented and the documentation
must include the following information:
• Scope of the traceability system
• Optimal batch size
• Traceability information needed
• Requirements for record keeping and retrieval
• Procedures for review and testing of the traceability system
46
Food business operators must ensure that the following information concerning consignments of
food of animal origin is made available to the food business operator to whom the food is supplied
and, upon request, to the competent authority:
(a) An accurate description of the food
(b) The volume or quantity of the food
(c) The name and address of the food business operator from which the food has been
dispatched
(d) The name and address of the consignor (owner), if different from the food business
operator from which the food has been dispatched
(e) The name and address of the food business operator to whom the food is dispatched
(f) The name and address of the consignee (owner), if different from the food business
operator to whom the food is dispatched
(g) A reference identifying the lot, batch or consignment, as appropriate
(h) The date of dispatch. (Regulation (EU) 931/2011)
Additional information can be found in the FSAI’s Guidance Note No. 10 (Revision 3) Product Recall
and Traceability.
47
APPENDIX 1. LOCATION OF HEALTH MARKS ON CARCASES
Regulation (EC) 854/2004 (S.I. No. 432/2009 as amended) details the manner in which the health
mark is to be applied to meat and where on the meat the health mark is to be applied.
Health marking must take place on the external surface of the carcase, by stamping the mark in
ink or hot branding. Each piece of carcases which are cut into half carcases or quarters, or when
half carcases are cut into three pieces, must bear a health mark.
As outlined in Section 3.1.1, the health mark must be oval, must indicate the name of the country
in which the establishment is located, the approval number of the slaughterhouse and an EU
designation mark.
48
APPENDIX 2. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION OF ID MARK
ON WRAPPING AND PACKAGING
If a manufacturer makes sausages2 for a wholesaler/rewrapping centre which subsequently wraps
the sausages:
(a) The ID mark of the manufacturer making the sausages appears on the wrapping at the
manufacturing stage
(b) The ID mark of the rewrapping centre appears on the wrapping at the rewrapping centre.
The rewrapping centre must keep a register, clearly demonstrating that product bearing the ID
mark (a) was rewrapped and now bears the ID mark (b).
The final retail product can only have one ID mark. It is only where repackaging takes place that
there may be two ID marks involved, one on the wrapping and a different one on the packaging.
It is acceptable for an establishment to put the name and address of the business which they
supply on the product. However, only a plant that has been granted an ID mark may apply that
ID mark. No other plant may do so.
Wrapping: means the placing of a foodstuff in a wrapper or container in direct contact with the
foodstuff concerned, and the wrapper or container itself.
Packaging: means the placing of one or more wrapped foodstuffs in a second container, and the
latter container itself.
2
This example applies to fresh meat, minced meat/meat preparations and meat products.
49
APPENDIX 3. SAMPLE WHITE BOARD AND ‘IN-TRAY’ LABELS
Table 8. Sample board at a ‘serve-over’ beef counter
Batch Slaughtered in Cut in Origin Voluntary

information
Sirloin 12345 Ireland: 901 Ireland: Ireland Aged for 21 days

steak 902
Minced 23456 Ireland: 903 Ireland: Ireland

beef 904
Minced 34567 Ireland Prepared (Using derogation)

beef in Ireland
Rib roast 45678 905 905 Ireland Bord Bia

Quality
Assured
Fillet 26732 Ireland: 906 Ireland: Ireland

steak 907
Fillet 98765 Brazil: 1010 Brazil: Brazil

steak 1010
Table 9. Sample ‘in-tray’ label at a ‘serve-over’ butcher counter
Product Fillet steak
Batch 34567
Slaughtered in Ireland 123
Cut in Ireland 123
Origin Ireland
50
APPENDIX 4. LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEEF
IN A RETAIL OUTLET
The tables below describe the information to be included on the label in the following
instances:
a. Where the beef is bought in prepacks by the butcher and:
(i) Sold in the prepack (see Table 10)
(ii) The butcher opens the packaging and the beef is sold loose (see Table 11)
(iii) T
he butcher opens the packaging and repacks the beef for direct sale to the
consumer from the butcher shop premises (see Table 12).
b. Where the meat is bought in loose/wholesale cuts (see Table 13)
Table 10. Information required for beef bought in prepacks by the butcher
and sold in the prepack
Information to be included on the label Regulations
Batch number/traceability code Beef Labelling

Approval number and Member State of the slaughterhouse Regulations
Approval number and Member State of the cutting hall
Origin of the beef
Name of the food* Provision of

Net quantity* Food Information
Date of minimum durability, i.e. ‘best-before’ date or ‘use-by’ date* to Consumers
If meat is frozen, ‘frozen on’ date Regulation
Any special storage conditions or conditions of use
Name or business name and address of the food business operator,
i.e. the food business operator responsible for the food information
is the operator under whose name or business name the food
is marketed or, if that operator is not established in the EU, the
importer in the EU market.
Instructions for use, where necessary
The ID mark Hygiene

Regulations
*T
his information must appear on the label ‘in the same field of vision’. The intention is that all the information can easily
be seen at the same time under normal purchasing conditions.
51
Table 11. Information to be provided to the consumer when beef is bought in
prepacks by the butcher and sold loose
Information which must be displayed in written and visible form Regulations

to the consumer at the point of sale, e.g. on a sign
nearby and or on a label alongside the loose meat for sale

Approval number/traceability code Regulations
Approval number and Member State of the slaughterhouse
Origin of the beef
Table 12. Information to be provided to the consumer when beef is bought in

prepacks by the butcher and repacked for direct sale to the consumer
from the butcher shop premises
Information to be included on the label Regulations

Approval number/traceability code Regulations
Approval number and Member State of the slaughterhouse
Origin of the beef
Table 13. Information required when beef is bought in loose/wholesale cuts

(Fresh meat, carcases, half carcases or half carcases cut into no more than
three wholesale cuts, and quarters intended to be placed on the market for
human consumption)
Information to be included on labels or documentation Regulations

accompanying meat

Approval number and Member State of the slaughterhouse Regulations
Origin of the beef
ID mark Meat Hygiene

Regulations
52
SECTION B: LABELLING OF MEAT AS AN INGREDIENT
5. LABELLING PROVISIONS
5.1 General provisions
Meat used as an ingredient in foods

The meat labelling requirements apply exclusively to the labelling of foods which contain meat
as an ingredient, such as in ready meals, for example. The requirements do not apply to meat
sold without further processing, such as meat cuts (e.g. sirloin steak) and anatomical parts (e.g.
chicken wings).
5.2 Ingredient categories
The labelling rules add the designation ‘…meat’ in addition to the name of the species from which
it comes (such as ‘bovine meat’) to the list of categories of ingredients which can be declared
in the list of ingredients by their category name (see Appendix 5). For labelling in English, this
designation, i.e. ‘(animal species) meat’, can be replaced by the generic name of the ingredient, for
example ‘beef’ or ‘beef meat’. Where the generic name of the ingredient is declared (e.g. chicken,
pork, lamb), rather than the species (e.g. poultry, porcine, ovine), the term ‘meat’ may be omitted
(see Section 5.5).
5.3 Definition of meat
Meat defined in Regulation (EC) 1169/2011 is the skeletal muscles (including diaphragm and
masseter muscles but not including the muscles of the carpus, tarsus and tail) of mammalian and
bird species recognised as fit for human consumption.
Offal which is not included in this definition must be declared separately in the list of ingredients.
The total fat and connective tissue content of the ‘meat’ must not exceed the limits set out in
Table 14. Maximum limits have been set for the fat and connective tissue content of meat for
each animal species.
In other words, ‘meat’ used as an ingredient is the muscles attached to the bones of the skeleton
of an animal, including the diaphragm (often referred to as the skirt) and the jaw/cheek muscles
of mammals and birds which are suitable for eating. The heart, tongue, the muscles of the head
(excluding the jaw/cheek muscles) and the muscles below the wrist, ankle and tail are excluded
from the definition of meat.
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Table 14. Maximum limits for fat and connective tissue for meats
Species Fat (%) Connective tissue2 (%)
Mammals1 25 25
Porcines 30 25
Birds and rabbits 15 10
(1) Other than rabbits and porcines

(2) In order to determine the connective tissue content of muscle meat, the ratio of the collagen content to protein content
is calculated.
For example, pork meat can have a maximum fat content of 30% and a maximum connective
tissue content of 25%, whereas beef meat can have a maximum fat and connective tissue content
of 25% each. The maximum limits on fat and connective tissue apply to each species separately.
Therefore, the ‘meat’ content of each species must be calculated separately, taking into account
the limits for that species. However, the total ‘meat’ content of all the species can be declared
together in the list of ingredients. These limits also apply to all foods with comminuted meat as
an ingredient (see Section 5.8).
Where these limits for the meat content are exceeded, the excess fat and/or connective tissue
content must be declared separately in the list of ingredients under their own name.
For example, the list of ingredients for a pork and beef sausage could be given by the following
where the definition of meat and meat content limits apply to each species separately:
Ingredients:
Meat 37% (pork, beef)… pork fat… pork rind… antioxidants (E330, E301)… beef fat…
beef connective tissue
or
Ingredients:
Pork (25%), beef (12%)... pork fat … pork rind … antioxidants (E330, E301)… beef fat…
beef connective tissue
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5.4 Declaration of excess fat and connective tissue
The excess fat and connective tissue declared separately in the ingredients list to the muscle meat
portion must be accompanied by the species name. For example, ‘pork connective tissue’, or a
more specific name where one exists, may be used instead, such as ‘pork rind’. However, where
a more specific name is declared in the list of ingredients, the consumer must understand what is
meant by the term and must not be misled in any way.
For example, the ingredients of a ‘beef burger’ could read:

Ingredients:
Beef (37%) … antioxidants (E330)… beef fat… spices… hydrolysed vegetable proteins…
beef connective tissue… preservative (E250)
Like all other ingredients, any excess fat and connective tissue must be declared in the list of
ingredients in descending order of weight as recorded at the mixing bowl stage.
Excess fat and connective tissue are required to be labelled but not required to be quantified
in the list of ingredients (provided that specific reference has not been made to these ingredients
on the product labelling).
5.4.1 Standardisation of fat and connective tissue

In order to determine the ‘meat’ content of ingredients in a uniform manner due to the large
variability in animal fat content across the Member States, maximum limits have been established
for the fat and connective tissue content of meat for each animal species as outlined previously.
There is no distinction therefore whether fat has come from the skeleton muscle or has
been added afterwards to the recipe, provided that it is below the maximum limit set for fat
and provided that the fat is from the same species. The same situation applies for connective
tissue. The rationale is that at mixing bowl level, a meat manufacturer may add separate fat and
connective tissue (e.g. as back fat and dried rind, respectively) obtained from the same species,
possibly from another source, because the meat cuts used are often too lean to make up the
recipe. These added cuttings obtained from the same species must fall under the definition of
meat, provided that it was within the limits set down.
For example, for a food with beef as an ingredient, fat from another source but from the same
species could be used to make up the recipe, provided that the fat content is below the maximum
limit set down. Any excess fat (or connective tissue) would have to be declared separately in the
list of ingredients (i.e. ‘beef fat’).
55
5.5 Animal species
The name of the animal species from which the meat came must accompany the term ‘meat’ in
the list of ingredients, e.g. bovine meat or poultry meat, provided that the meat content complies
with the definition above. However, for the purposes of labelling in English, the name of the animal
species can be replaced by the generic name of the ingredient for the animal species concerned,
such as ‘chicken meat’ or ‘chicken’. Where the generic name of the ingredient is used, e.g. ‘beef’,
the term ‘meat’ may be omitted.
5.6 Exclusions from the definition of meat
Meat cuts and anatomical parts

The definition of meat applies only to the labelling of foods which contain meat as an ingredient.
The definition does not apply to raw meat and cuts of meat which are not ingredients of
composite food with meat as an ingredient.
Some meat ingredients may use mixtures of meat from different sources and origins as well as
mixtures of meat cuts and anatomical parts.
Beef (30%)… Beef flank (10%)… Preservative: E220
Comminuted ingredients may declare the specific anatomical part of the animal instead of the
designation ‘...meat’ in the list of ingredients. However, the definition of meat and the meat
content limits apply and must be adhered to.
In short, how the meat is described in the list of ingredients will indicate whether or not the
definition of meat applies (except for comminuted ingredients). For example, in the list of
ingredients for a food containing chicken, such as a ‘chicken hot pot’ which declares ‘chicken
meat’ in the list of ingredients, the definition of meat applies and therefore the limit of fat and
connective tissue must be adhered to.
If, however, the list of ingredients declares the specific anatomical cut of the meat, for example
‘chicken breast’, the definition of meat does not apply and the ‘chicken breast’ portion will not
contribute towards the quantity of ‘chicken meat’ declared. However, the chicken breast will
itself have to be quantified in the list of ingredients under the quantitative ingredient declaration
(QUID) rules, as the food is called ‘chicken hot pot’.
56
For example, in the case of the latter, the list of ingredients of the ‘chicken hot pot’ could read:
Ingredients:
Chicken breast (20%)… chicken (10%)… chicken fat… chicken connective tissue…
preservative (E250)
However, it should be noted that foods containing meat as an ingredient claiming to be ‘chicken
breast fillets’ but containing added water and other ingredients, are not ‘chicken breast fillets’ but
‘meat preparations’. As such, these meat preparations are not considered as anatomical cuts of
meat and the definition of meat applies.
Meat-related ingredients
Meat-related ingredients which are derived from meat protein, fat and connective tissue and
which have undergone a treatment such as purification (e.g. gelatine, collagen fibre, refined
fat), hydrolysation (e.g. protein hydrolysates), extraction (e.g. meat extracts, bouillons) are also
excluded from the definition of meat. These ingredients must be declared separately in the list of
ingredients under their own name, in addition to the species from which they were derived. Beef
gelatine is one such example. Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 details the labelling requirements for
gelatine and collagen. Wrapping and packaging containing gelatine or collagen must bear the words
‘gelatine fit for human consumption’ and must indicate the date of minimum durability. Wrapping
and packaging containing collagen must bear the words ‘collagen fit for human consumption’ and
indicate the date of preparation.
Unrefined fats which are components of the meat either raw or after cooking are generally
considered to fall under the definition of meat, where the raw meat is QUIDED or where the
meat which is subsequently cooked is QUIDED as a raw meat equivalent. If, however, the QUID
is on a ‘cooked meat’ basis, the now refined fat does not fall under the definition of meat but is
considered as a separate ingredient and must be declared separately in the list of ingredients, e.g.
as ‘pork fat’.
57
Mechanically separated meat
Mechanically separated meat (MSM) is defined under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 as the product
obtained by removing meat from flesh-bearing bones after boning or from poultry carcases, using
mechanical means, resulting in the loss or modification of the muscle fibre structure. MSM does
not fall under the definition of ‘meat’ and cannot be included in the calculation of the meat
content.
Mechanically separated meat for all animal species must be declared in the list of ingredients under
its own specific name, in addition to the name of the animal species, e.g. ‘mechanically separated
chicken meat’.
Processed meat
The definition of meat and the meat content limits do not apply to meat cuts and anatomical parts
which are simply processed and in which the anatomical structure of the meat can be recognised
by the consumer.
5.7 Quantitative ingredient declaration (QUID)
The quantitative ingredient declaration (QUID) shows the percentage of an ingredient or category
of ingredients in a food. It applies to all foods and beverages with more than one ingredient,
including food with meat as an ingredient.
The percentage quantity must be in or next to the name of the food or be in the list of ingredients
next to the name of the ingredient. Food with meat as an ingredient such as in prepacked foods
will require a QUID in certain circumstances.
For example, the list of ingredients of a ‘Beef Bolognese sauce’ could read:
Ingredients:
Beef (20%), water, tomato, tomato puree, onion, carrot, celery, modified starch, salt, sugar,
garlic, oregano, pepper, basil
58
When is a QUID required?
It is necessary to state the quantity as a percentage on the label of a meat as an ingredient where
the ingredient is:
• Included in the name of the food (such as pork sausages, in which case the pork must be
quantified)
• Usually associated with the name of the food (such as shepherd’s pie, where the lamb or
beef must be quantified)
• Emphasised on the label in words, pictures or graphics (such as ‘with chicken’, in which
case the chicken must be quantified).
Calculation and expression of a QUID

The quantity of an ingredient is calculated on the basis of the recipe at the moment the ingredients
are added, i.e. the same method as is used for determining the order in the list of ingredients – at
the mixing bowl stage. Therefore, the quantity declaration for a meat ingredient is based on the
weight of the ingoing ‘meat’ ingredient divided by the total weight of all the ingoing ingredients
(except the weight of any added water or volatile ingredients lost in processing). The weight of
the ingoing ‘meat’ ingredient will depend on the definition of meat and the meat content limits
for fat and connective tissue.
QUIDs should relate to the nature of the ingredients added at the mixing bowl stage, i.e. as
identified in the list of ingredients. Therefore, some ingredients will be required to be quantified
in the raw state, as their names give no indication of processing and thus imply that the basic
food, such as ‘chicken’ or ‘beef’, has been used. Other ingredients identified by names that indicate
they have been somehow processed, such as ‘cooked chicken’, should also be quantified as having
been used.
A ‘raw equivalent’ declaration or other similar wording may be provided in addition to the
quantitative declarations of processed ingredients, as this would help consumers compare similar
foods which have used ingredients in different forms. For example, ‘cooked beef’ added at the
mixing bowl stage to the raw ingredients of a beef pie could declare in the list of ingredients.
59
Ingredients:
Cooked beef (20%)… water… salt… preservative (E250)
or
Ingredients:
Cooked beef (20%), (raw beef equivalent 25%)... water… salt… preservative (E250)
The quantities indicated on labelling designate the average quantity of the ingredient. Average
quantity means the quantity of ingredient obtained by complying with the recipe and good
manufacturing practice, allowing for the producer’s normal manufacturing variations.
QUID, cuts and anatomical parts

Although meat cuts and anatomical parts of animals sold without processing do not fall under the
definition of ‘meat ingredient’, where they are sold prepacked the general labelling rules will apply,
including the QUID requirement in certain circumstances.
For example, prepacked ‘chicken breasts’ with added ingredients for sale to consumers will have
to declare the compulsory labelling requirements as detailed in Section 3.1. The labelling will
include the percentage of chicken either near the name of the food or in the list of ingredients
beside ‘chicken breast’, as there is more than one ingredient and the ingredient ‘chicken’ appears
in the name of the food. The QUID for this cut or anatomical part relates only to the specific cut
and cannot include any additional meat from other parts of the animal or non-adherent tissue.
QUID and meat cuts with bone

Where meat cuts customarily include a bone and are sold without further processing, like other
raw meat cuts and anatomical parts, the definition of meat and the meat content limits, such as a
‘lamb chop’, do not apply. However, the general labelling provisions and the QUID requirement
may apply if there is more than one ingredient. In such circumstances, the QUID for ‘lamb’ should
include the weight of the bone, since consumers will understand what is meant by the cut and
that a bone is included because of the name.
QUID and foods with cooked meat as an ingredient

The percentage quantity of a meat ingredient is calculated on the basis of its weight and physical
state (e.g. raw) as added at the mixing bowl stage. ‘Raw meat equivalent’ declarations or similar
declarations may be provided in addition to the quantitative declarations for a processed meat
ingredient.
60
For foods with meat as an ingredient where all the ingredients are raw but which are subsequently
cooked by the manufacturer, there may be a possible loss of moisture during the cooking
process, which may result in a cooked meat product weighing less than the sum of the uncooked
ingredients. Therefore, for a food with meat as an ingredient which is subsequently cooked, the
quantity declaration for the meat ingredient may be based on the weight of the ingoing meat
ingredient as a percentage of the weight of the final product. However, this can result in the
quantity of an ingoing meat ingredient being greater than the weight of the finished product,
and the QUID would be greater than 100%. As this could be confusing to the consumer, it is
recommended that in addition to the QUID, the weight of ingredient used to prepare 100 g of
the finished product should be indicated.
For example, for a cooked ham product: ‘Pork (110%, made with X g pork per 100 g)’
5.8 Foods with comminuted meat as an ingredient
The maximum limits on fat and connective tissue, and thus the definition of meat, applies to foods
with comminuted meat as an ingredient, such as sausages and burgers, even in cases where the
specific anatomical cut has been declared in the list of ingredients instead of the designation ‘...
meat’. In these foods, the anatomical structure is not recognisable by the consumer and therefore
the maximum limits on fat and connective tissue, and thus the definition of meat, apply. Foods
with comminuted meat as an ingredient are not defined but are considered to be foods with meat
as an ingredient where the meat portion has been broken down or ground into small particles,
such as meat which has been minced or shredded. Meat which is sliced or diced is not considered
to be comminuted.
For example, the list of ingredients and the meat content definition of a ‘turkey and pork sausage’
could read as follows where the definition of meat applies:
Ingredients:
Turkey (42%)… water… pork (13%)… pork fat… pork rind… spices
61
5.9 Compound ingredients
A compound ingredient is an ingredient which is itself made up of several other ingredients, such
as a pork sausage in a tin of ‘sausage and beans in tomato sauce’. A compound ingredient can
be included in the list of ingredients under its own specific name, provided that it is followed
immediately by a list of its ingredients (see Example 1 below). Alternatively, the ingredients of the
compound ingredient may be shown on the list of ingredients without making reference to the
name of the compound ingredient (see Example 2 below).
Example 1
Ingredients:
Haricot beans (45%), tomatoes (25%), sausage (18%) (contains: pork (60%), pork fat, water,
wheat flour, pea starch, spices), sugar, spirit vinegar, salt
Example 2
Ingredients:
Haricot beans (45%), tomatoes (25%), pork (11%), sugar, spirit vinegar, pork fat, water,
wheat flour, pea starch, salt, spices
Note: Ingredients are in descending order of weight.
62
5.10 Calculation of meat content
The FSAI recognises the following validated methods for the calculation of the meat content:
• The method outlined in the Clitravi guidance document, as recommended
by the European Commission, using typical compositional values or using
analytical results
• The method outlined in the Food Standards Agency (FSA) UK guidance
document, using typical compositional values or using analytical results
Other calculation methods yielding the same results as the calculation methods above may also
be used, but must be validated, and the evidence of this validation must be documented and held
for inspection if requested by an authorised officer.
Meat manufacturers wishing to calculate the meat content of their foods with meat as an
ingredient should follow the calculation methodology in either of the guidance notes referenced
above. The Clitravi guidance document is available from the FSAI website: https://www.fsai.ie/.
The FSA UK guidance document is available from the FSA UK website: https://www.food.gov.
uk/ Chapter 2, which follows, outlines a flow diagram and worked example to calculate the meat
content based on the Clitravi method.
The levels of fat, meat protein and hydroxyproline/collagen present in meat ingredients may be
determined by analysis of representative samples of ingredients from the mixing bowl. Following
this analysis, the percentage of fat, meat protein and collagen in a specific part or mixture can be
determined using ISO methods or equivalent.
63
6. CALCULATION OF MEAT CONTENT
6.1 Introduction
The flow diagram (see Section 6.3) outlines the method to calculate the meat content of a food
with meat as an ingredient as per the Clitravi methodology and corresponds to the worked
example in Section 6.4.
In order to calculate the meat content of a food with meat as an ingredient, the percentage of
fat, connective tissue and meat protein content for each species must be determined either by
analysis or from typical compositional values (Appendix 5).
The levels of fat, meat protein and hydroxyproline/collagen present in meat ingredients may be
determined by analysis of representative samples of ingredients from the mixing bowl. Following
this analysis, the percentage of fat, meat protein and collagen in a specific part or mixture can be
determined using ISO methods or equivalent.
Collagen is the analytical parameter by which the connective tissue content is assessed. In order
to determine the connective tissue content, the ratio of the collagen content to protein content
is analysed. When the collagen content is determined it needs to be converted to connective
tissue.
Conversion factor: connective tissue content = collagen x 37/8 (i.e. 4.625)
The ratio 37/8 represents the conversion from collagen to connective tissue (Source: Campden and
Chorleywood – Guideline 22 ‘Meat and meat products: the calculation of meat content, added water and
connective tissue from analytical data’).
64
6.2 Terminology
% LIMITFAT The limit for the fat content is the percentage of fat permitted in a ‘meat’
mixture for a particular species as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011.
For example, the % LIMITFAT for pork is the legal limit of fat allowed in the
pork ‘meat’ mixture, i.e. 30%.
% LIMITCOL
The limit for the connective tissue content, expressed as collagen, is
the percentage of connective tissue permitted in a ‘meat’ mixture for a
particular species as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011. For example,
the % LIMITCOL for pork is the legal limit of connective tissue allowed in the
pork ‘meat’ mixture, i.e. 25%.
MAXFAT
The maximum fat content is the amount of fat tolerated in a ‘meat’ mixture
for a particular species in order for the mixture to be defined as ‘meat’ in the
list of ingredients. It is expressed as a proportion of the ‘meat’ components
only.
MAXCOL The maximum connective tissue content, expressed as collagen, is the

amount of connective tissue tolerated in a meat mixture for a particular
species in order for the mixture to be defined as ‘meat’ in the list of
ingredients. It is expressed as collagen as a proportion of the ‘meat’ mixture
components only.
% EXCOL Excess collagen
% EXCT Corresponding excess connective tissue
% EXFAT Excess fat
MEAT Meat content covered by the definition of meat
65
6.3 Flow diagram for the calculation of meat content
66
6.4 Worked example: meat content calculation – pork liver sausage
Step 1:
Determine the product composition at the level of mixing bowl and identify all meat
ingredients and their percentage contribution to the recipe.
(a) Recipe at mixing bowl
Kg Ingredient %
43.8 Pork neck, 85VL 12
including rind
29.2 Pork loin, 85VL 8
including rind
127.7 Pork back fat 35
7.3 Nitrite salt 2
36.4 Pork liver 10
7.3 Pork meat extract 2
10.9 Pork rind less trimmable fat 3
7.3 Pork gelatine 2
54.7 Beef cuts 15
10.9 Beef fat 3
10.9 Chicken liver 3
7.3 Herbs, spices, additives, 2
hydrolysed vegetable
protein
7.3 Sodium caseinate 2
3.7 Pork casing 1
364.7 Total 100
67
(b) Identify the different meat cuts
Pork neck, 85VL including rind = meat 12%

Pork loin, 85VL including rind = meat 8%
Pork back fat = meat* 35%
Nitrite salt = not meat
Pork liver = not meat
Pork meat extract = not meat
Pork rind less trimmable fat = meat 3%
Pork gelatine = not meat
Beef cuts = meat 15%
Beef fat = meat 3%
Chicken liver = not meat
Herbs, spices, additives, hydrolysed vegetable = not meat
protein
Sodium caseinate = not meat
Pork casing = not meat
(*include added fat)
68
Step 2:
Group meat cuts in the recipe by species, and calculate their combined percentage
contribution to the recipe.
Pork neck, 85VL including rind 12%

Pork loin, 85VL including rind 8%
Pork back fat 35%
Pork rind less trimmable fat 3%
Pork ‘meat’ mixture 58%
Beef cuts 15%

Beef fat 3%
Beef ‘meat’ mixture 18%
Step 3:
Determine percentage protein, percentage fat and percentage collagen content for
each species.
The collagen, fat and protein content must be determined using analytical methods or by
reference to generally accepted compositional tables. If using generally accepted compositional
data, the typical values for protein, fat and collagen in meat cuts compositional tables provided for
in the FSA UK guidance note may be used. The typical values provided in the FSA UK guidance
note are also outlined in Appendix 6 of this guidance note.
Care must be taken to exclude the following from the calculation/analysis:

• All non-meat cuts (e.g. pork liver)
• All non-meat nitrogen/protein sources (e.g. pork stock, caseinates, hydrolysed
vegetable protein)
• All non-meat collagen (e.g. pork gelatine, pork casing)
• All non-meat fat (e.g. refined fats, pork stock)
69
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Determination of total percentage protein for each species
PORK
The pork ingredients can be listed as follows, with their corresponding percentage protein. The
percentage protein for this example is determined from the reference compositional table in
Appendix 6.
Meat cut % present % protein

Pork neck 85VL including rind 12% A 17.4% a
Pork loin 85VL including rind 8% B 18.9% b
Pork back fat 35% C 5.1% c
Pork rind less trimmable fat 3% D 34.5% d
Values in the table above have been denoted a letter for the purposes of the following formula.
The formula below can be modified to include more or less ingredients, i.e. (E × e) + (F × f) etc.
Total percentage protein = (A × a) + (B × b) + (C × c) + (D × d) etc.
Total percentage protein = (12 × 17.4) + (8 × 18.9) + (35 × 5.1) + (3 × 34.5)

100
= 208.8 + 151.2 + 178.5 + 103.5
100
= 6.42% protein in the pork ‘meat’ mixture

70
BEEF
The same calculation can be used to calculate the total percentage protein in the beef ‘meat’
mixture.
Meat cut % present % protein

Beef brisket lean 15% A 16.3% a
Beef fat 3% B 7.3% b
Total percentage protein = (15 × 16.3) + (3 × 7.3)

100
= 244.5 + 21.9
100
= 2.66% protein in the beef ‘meat’ mixture
Determination of total percentage fat for each species
PORK
The pork ingredients can be listed as follows, with their corresponding percentage fat.
The percentage fat for our example is determined from the reference compositional table in
Appendix 6.
Meat cut % present % fat

Total percentage fat = (A × a) + (B × b) + (C × c) + (D × d) etc.
Total percentage fat = (12 × 21.1) + (8 × 22.5) + (35 × 78.6) + (3 × 10)

100
= 253.2 + 180 + 2,751 + 30
100
= 32.14% fat in the pork ‘meat’ mixture
71
BEEF
The same calculation can be used to calculate the total percentage fat in the beef ‘meat’ mixture.
Meat cut % present % fat

Total percentage fat = (15 × 27.6) + (3 × 74.8)

100
= 414 + 224.4
100
= 6.38% fat in the beef ‘meat’ mixture
Determination of total percentage collagen for each species
PORK
The pork ingredients can be listed as follows, with their corresponding percentage collagen. The
percentage collagen for our example is determined from the reference compositional table in
Appendix 6.
Meat cut % present % collagen

Total percentage fat = (A × a) + (B × b) + (C × c) + (D × d) etc.
Total percentage collagen = (12 × 3.12) + (8 × 3.76) + (35 × 3.68) + (3 × 22.4)

100
= 37.44 + 30.08 + 128.8 + 67.2
100
= 2.64% collagen in the pork ‘meat’ mixture
72
BEEF
The same calculation can be carried out to calculate the total percentage collagen in the beef
‘meat’ mixture.
Meat cut % present % collagen

Total percentage collagen = (15 × 2.56) + (3 × 5.76)

100
= 38.4 + 17.28
100
= 0.56% collagen in the beef ‘meat’ mixture
We now have the following values determined for our pork and beef ‘meat’ mix example:
Pork ‘meat’ mixture Beef ‘meat’ mixture

Total percentage protein = 6.42% Total percentage protein = 2.66%
Total percentage fat = 32.14% Total percentage fat = 6.38%
Total percentage collagen = 2.64% Total percentage collagen = 0.56%
These figures can be used to:
• Calculate the maximum permitted connective tissue

• Calculate excess collagen, if any
• Calculate excess connective tissue, if any
• Calculate the maximum permitted fat
• Calculate excess fat, if any
• Calculate the meat content per species
• Express meat content as a proportion of the mixing bowl ingredients per species
73
However, one other set value is also required. Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 sets out maximum
fat and connective tissue content for ingredients designated by the term ‘meat’. This Regulation
indicates:
Maximum limits of fat in pork is 30%.

Maximum limits of connective tissue in pork is 25%.
Maximum limits of fat in beef is 25%.
Maximum limits of connective tissue in beef is 25%.
We can now proceed to the calculation using Steps 4–9.
Step 4:
Calculate the maximum permitted connective tissue content, expressed as collagen
(MAXCOL) using the following equation:
% MAXCOL = % LIMITCOL × (% protein – % collagen)

(100 − % LIMITCOL)
Where % LIMITCOL = the maximum percentage of connective tissue content expressed as collagen
of the selected meat species as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011.
Step 5:
(a) Calculate excess collagen (EXCOL).
% EXCOL = % collagen – % MAXCOL)
If the percentage excess collagen (EXCOL) is less than or equal to (≤) 0%, there is no need for Step
5(b), as there is simply no excess.
If the percentage excess collagen is greater than (>) 0%, then Step 5(b) does apply. Since collagen
is an analytical parameter by which connective tissue is assessed, the percentage excess collagen
must be converted into percentage excess connective tissue (% EXCT). This is done using a
conversion factor of 4.625, as per the equation below (Step 5(b)).
74
(b) Calculate excess connective tissue (EXCT)
% EXCT = % EXCOL × 4.625
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Calculate the maximum permitted connective tissue (% MAXCOL), excess collagen (%
EXCOL) and excess connective tissue (% EXCT) for each species.
PORK
Protein = 6.42%
Fat = 32.14%
Collagen = 2.64%
Maximum limit of fat in pork (% LIMITFAT) = 30%
Maximum limit of connective tissue in pork (% LIMITCT) = 25%
% MAXCOL = 25 × (6.42 − 2.64)

(100 – 25)
= 25 × 3.78
75
= 1.26%
% EXCOL = 2.64% − 1.26%
= 1.38%
% EXCT = 1.38% × 4.625
= 6.38%
There is 6.38% excess connective tissue that cannot be considered as ‘pork meat’ in the list of
ingredients, but must be declared as ‘pork connective tissue’ on the label.
75
BEEF
Protein = 2.66%
Fat = 6.38%
Collagen = 0.56%
Maximum limit of fat (% LIMITFAT) in beef = 25%
Maximum limit of connective tissue in beef (% LIMITCT) = 25%
% MAXCOL = 25 × (2.66 − 0.56)

(100 − 25)
= 25 × 2.1
75
= 0.7%
% EXCOL = 0.56% − 0.7%
= −0.14%
In this example, % EXCOL is <0%. Therefore, there is no need for Step 3 (% excess connective
tissue), as there is no excess collagen and therefore no excess connective tissue.
Step 6:
Calculate the maximum permitted fat content (% MAXFAT) which is expressed as a
proportion of the ‘meat’ components.
In order to do this, excess connective tissue (i.e. collagen) must first be excluded from the
calculation, as it is not considered ‘meat’.
For this reason, there are two separate formulae A and B:
76
(A) If there is no excess collagen (≤0%) recorded in Step 5, the following formula applies:
% MAXFAT = % LIMITFAT x (100 − % fat)

(100 − % LIMITFAT)
(B) If there is excess collagen (>0%) recorded in Step 5, the following formula applies:
% MAXFAT = % LIMITFAT x (100 − % EXCOL − % fat)

(100 − % LIMITFAT)
If percentage fat (calculated in Step 3) is:

• greater (>) than the calculated % MAXFAT, Step 7 applies
• less than (<) than the calculated % MAXFAT, Step 7 does not apply
Step 7:
Calculate excess fat (% EXFAT) content.
Excess fat must be calculated and declared separately in the list of ingredients.
% EXFAT = % fat − % MAXFAT
77
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Calculate the maximum permitted fat content (MAXFAT) for each species. This is
expressed as a proportion of the ‘meat’ components.
PORK
For the pork ‘meat’ mixture, there is an excess of collagen. Therefore, formula B of
Step 6 applies.
Pork ‘meat’ mixture

Protein = 6.42%
Fat = 32.14%
Collagen = 2.64%
Maximum limits of fat (MAXFAT) in pork is 30%
Maximum limits of connective tissue (MAXCT) in pork is 25%
Allowed collagen content (% MAXCOL) = 1.26%
Excess collagen (EXCOL) = 1.38%
Excess connective tissue (EXCT) = 6.38%
% MAXFAT = 30 × (100 – 1.38 – 32.14)

(100 – 30)
= 30 × 66.48
70
= 1994.4
70
= 28.49%
The fat content of the pork ‘meat’ mixture is 32.14%, which is greater than the percentage
maximum amount of permitted fat of 28.49%. Therefore, there is excess fat, and Step 7 applies:
% EXFAT = 32.14% – 28.49%

= 3.65%
Therefore, there is 3.65% excess fat that cannot be considered as ‘pork meat’ in the list of
ingredients, but must be declared as ‘pork fat’ on the label.
78
BEEF
For the beef ‘meat’ mixture, there is no excess of collagen. Therefore, formula A of Step 6 applies.
Beef ‘meat’ mixture

Protein = 2.66%
Fat = 6.38%
Collagen = 0.56%
Maximum limits of fat (LIMITFAT) in beef is 25%
Maximum limits of connective tissue (LIMITCT) in beef is 25%
Allowed collagen content = 0.7%
Excess collagen (EXCOL) = 0%
Excess connective tissue (EXCT) = 0%
% MAXFAT = 25 × (100 − 6.38)

(100 − 25)
= 25 × 93.62
75
= 31.2%
The fat content of the beef ‘meat’ mixture is 6.38%, which is less than the percentage maximum
amount of permitted fat of 31.2%. Therefore, there will be no excess fat and Step 7 does
not apply.
Step 8:
Calculate the meat content per species.
% meat content = 100% − % EXFAT − % EXCT
In order to calculate the ‘meat’ content of the meat mixture per species, excess fat and excess
connective tissue must be subtracted from the meat mixture as a whole. Meat can then be
expressed as a proportion of the mixing bowl of ingredients, as per Step 9.
79
Step 9:
Express meat content as a proportion of the mixing bowl ingredients per species.
% total ‘meat’ in recipe = % ‘meat’ per species in mixing bowl × meat content
100
WORKED EXAMPLE:
Calculate the ‘meat’ content per species.
PORK
Pork ‘meat’ mixture

Protein = 6.42%
Fat = 32.14%
Collagen = 2.64%
Maximum limits of fat in pork = 30%
Maximum limits of connective tissue in pork = 25%
Excess collagen = 1.38%
Excess connective tissue = 6.38%
Maximum amount of permitted fat = 28.49%
Excess fat = 3.65%
Pork ‘meat’ content = 100% − 3.65% − 1.38%

= 94.97%
The pork ‘meat’ content as covered by the definition is 94.97%, but the other ingredients in the
recipe must also be taken into account and the meat content must be expressed as a proportion
of the mixing bowl of ingredients. The total pork ‘meat’ in recipe was calculated as 58%, of which
94.97% is meat. Therefore:
Final pork ‘meat’ content = 58 × 94.97%

(as a proportion of mixing bowl 100
ingredients)
= 55.08%
80
The final pork ‘meat’ content is calculated at 55.08% and the final figures are as follows:
FINAL VALUES FOR PORK

‘Meat’ content = 55.08%
Excess connective tissue = 6.38%
Excess fat = 3.65%
BEEF
Beef ‘meat’ mixture

Protein = 2.66%
Fat = 6.38%
Collagen = 0.56%
Maximum limits of fat in beef is 25%
Maximum limits of connective tissue in beef is 25%
Excess collagen = 0%
Excess connective tissue = 0%
Maximum amount of permitted fat = 31.2%
Excess fat = 0%
Beef ‘meat’ content = 100% − 0% − 0%

= 100%
The total beef ‘meat’ in the recipe was calculated as 18%, of which 100% is meat. Therefore, the
final figure for beef ‘meat’ is 18%.
Final beef ‘meat’ content = 18 × 100%

100
= 18%
FINAL VALUES FOR BEEF

‘Meat’ content = 18%
Excess connective tissue = 0%
Excess fat = 0%
81
Labelling
When all elements of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 have been applied, the list of ingredients
for pork liver sausage could read as follows:
Ingredients:
Meat 73% (pork, beef);1 pork liver 10%; pork fat; chicken liver; pork connective tissue;
pork stock; pork gelatine; herbs; salt; milk proteins; antioxidants (E330, E301); spices, emulsifiers
(E471, E72c); hydrolysed vegetable proteins; stabilisers (E450, E452); pork casing; preservative
(E250)
Note1: The percentage pork meat and beef meat could be declared separately in the list of
ingredients, i.e. pork 55%, beef 18%.
82
APPENDIX 5. LIST OF CATEGORIES OF INGREDIENTS WHICH
MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE NAME OF THE CATEGORY
RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIC NAME (REGULATION (EU)
NO. 1169/2011)
Definition Designation
17. Skeletal muscle(2) of mammalian and bird species ‘…meat’ and the name(s)(3) of
recognised as fit for human consumption with the animal species from which it
naturally included or adherent tissue, where the total comes
fat and connective tissue content does not exceed
the values indicated below and where the meat
constitutes an ingredient of another food.
Maximum fat and connective tissue contents for
ingredients designated by the term ‘…meat’
Species Fat Collagen/meat

content protein ratio(1)
– Mammals 25% 25%
(other than rabbits
and porcines) and
mixtures of species,
with mammals
predominating
– Porcines 30% 25%
– Birds and rabbits 15% 10%
The collagen/meat protein ratio is expressed as the

(1)
percentage of collagen in meat protein. The collagen

content means the hydroxyproline content multiplied
by a factor of 8.
If these maximum limits are exceeded, but all other

criteria for the definition of ‘meat’ are satisfied,
the ‘…meat’ content must be adjusted downwards
accordingly, and the list of ingredients must mention,
in addition to the term ‘…meat,’ the presence of fat
and/or connective tissue. The products covered by
the definition of ‘mechanically separated meat’ are
excluded from this definition.
18. All types of products covered by the definition of ‘mechanically separated meat’ and
‘mechanically separated meat’. the name(s)(3) of the animal species
from which it comes
(1)
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on
specific provisions for certain agricultural products.
(2)
The diaphragm and the masseters are part of the skeletal muscles, while the heart, tongue, the muscles of the head (other than the
masseters), the muscles of the carpus, the tarsus and the tail are excluded.
(3)
For labelling in English, this designation may be replaced by the generic name of the ingredient for the animal species concerned.
83
APPENDIX 6. TYPICAL PERCENTAGE VALUES FOR PROTEIN,
COLLAGEN AND FAT IN MEAT CUTS*
Pork
Protein % Collagen % Connective Fat %
tissue %
Lean – top quality 100VL 19.0 1.00 5.3 8.9
Lean containing a small amount 18.0 1.40 7.8 13.8
of visible fat and connective
tissue 95VL
Lean containing no major 16.5 2.00 12.1 19.3
gristles 90VL
Sow lean 80VL 18.0 2.30 12.8 26.4
Lean trimmings (incl. hock) 17.0 3.40 20.0 27.4
80VL
Lean with fat 50VL 11.5 1.90 16.5 53.6
More fat than lean 40VL 6.5 1.10 16.9 61.8
Coarse fatty tissue containing 5.0 1.50 1.50 76.5
a little lean
Pork Neck Lean 18.6 1.92 10.3 11.5
Pork Neck 85VL 16.6 2.24 13.5 22.2
Pork Neck 85VL including Rind 17.4 3.12 17.9 21.1
Pork Hand Joint Lean 19.4 2.08 10.7 8.8
Pork Hand 90VL 17.9 2.64 14.8 16.8
Pork Hand 90VL including Rind 18.9 3.84 20.3 16.0
Pork Loin Lean 20.9 1.68 8.0 8.4
Pork Loin 85VL 17.4 2.08 12.0 23.9
Pork Loin 85VL including Rind 18.9 3.76 19.9 22.5
Pork Belly Lean 19.8 1.84 9.3 9.9
Pork Belly 80VL 16.4 2.48 15.1 25.5
Pork Belly 80 VL including Rind 17.8 4.16 23.4 23.8
Pork Leg Lean 20.7 1.6 7.7 5.0
Pork Leg 95VL 18.8 2.00 10.6 13.8
Pork Leg 95VL including Rind 19.4 2.96 15.2 14.0
Pork 95VL Desinewed 17.3 0.55 3.2 12.0
Back Fat 5.1 3.68 71.8 78.6
Flare Fat 3.0 1.80 60.0 82.6
Semi-lean rind on 16.0 3.20 20.0 48.6
84
Pork
tissue %
Rind with fat uncooked 22.0 14.20 64.5 35.0
(35% fat)
Rind less trimmable fat 34.5 22.40 64.9 10.0
uncooked (10% fat)
Rind with fat cooked 17.0 11.00 64.7 –
(derived from A12)
Gristle 22.0 14.20 64.5 –
Masseter Muscle 20.0 3.90 19.5 –
Diaphragm 15.0 10.60 70.7 –
Rehydrated Drinde 95VL 22.0 14.20 64.5 –
Beef
tissue %
Lean – top quality 100VL 21.0 1.50 7.1 8.7
Lean containing a small amount 20.0 3.00 15.0 12.6
tissue 95VL
Lean with a moderate amount 17.0 3.40 20.0 22.3
tissue 85VL
Lean with some fat 75VL 16.0 4.80 30.0 30.6
More fat than lean 30VL 10.0 3.00 30.0 72.5
Beef Brisket Lean 16.3 2.56 15.7 27.6
Beef Brisket 75VL 15.2 2.88 19.0 32.4
Beef Jacob’s Ladder Lean 18.6 2.40 12.9 18.4
Beef Jacob’s Ladder 85VL 17.8 2.48 14.0 22.1
Beef Fore Rib Lean 18.3 2.16 11.8 20.9
Beef Fore Rib 80VL 17.1 2.24 13.1 25.9
Beef Chuck Lean 19.4 2.48 12.8 13.1
Beef Chuck 95VL 18.9 2.64 14.0 15.8
Beef Thin Flank Lean 18.4 2.32 12.6 21.1
85
Beef
tissue %
Beef Jacob’s Ladder 85VL 17.8 2.48 14.0 22.1
Beef Fore Rib Lean 18.3 2.16 11.8 20.9
Beef Fore Rib 80VL 17.1 2.24 13.1 25.9
Beef Chuck Lean 19.4 2.48 12.8 13.1
Beef Chuck 95VL 18.9 2.64 14.0 15.8
Beef Thin Flank Lean 18.4 2.32 12.6 21.1
Beef Thin Flank 80VL 16.6 2.64 15.9 28.8
Beef Shin and Leg Lean 21.8 3.92 18.0 6.2
Beef Shin and Leg 21.4 4.72 22.0 9.9
Beef Clod and Sticking Lean 19.2 2.96 15.4 14.7
Beef Clod and Sticking 90VL 18.5 3.20 17.3 18.2
Beef Topside Lean 21.8 1.60 7.4 6.3
Beef Topside 95VL 20.6 1.84 8.9 11.6
Beef Loin Rump and Fillet Lean 19.6 2.00 10.2 14.8
Beef Loin Rump and Fillet 85VL 18.0 2.16 12.0 22.2
Beef Thick Flank and Silverside 20.6 2.48 12.1 9.6
Lean
Beef Thick Flank and Silverside 19.9 2.72 13.7 13.2
95VL
Beef Side Lean 19.4 2.48 12.8 14.9
Beef Side 90VL 18.4 2.72 14.8 19.7
Beef Pistola Lean 20.4 2.24 11.0 11.4
Beef Pistola 90VL 19.3 2.48 12.9 16.8
Beef Fore Quarter Lean 18.6 2.64 14.2 17.9
Beef Fore Quarter 85VL 17.6 2.80 15.9 22.3
Fat 7.3 5.76 79.4 74.8
86
Poultry
tissue %
Skinless Chicken Breast 23.7 0.62 2.6 2.1
Skinless Chicken Leg 19.9 1.84 9.3 5.2
Skinless Chicken Thigh 19.7 1.12 5.7 7.1
Skinless Mixed Chicken Meat 19.4 1.68 8.6 7.7
Chicken Breast with Skin 22.1 1.20 5.4 6.7
Chicken Leg with Skin 18.8 2.40 12.8 10.1
Chicken Thigh with Skin 17.2 1.84 10.7 12.9
Mixed Chicken Meat with Skin 16.1 3.44 21.4 23.2
Chicken Ground Desinewed 17.1 0.69 4.0 15.6
(Fronts)
Chicken Fat 3.0 2.00 66.7 –
Chicken Skin 11.8 5.68 48.3 44.2
Skinless Turkey Breast 23.9 0.64 2.7 2.0
Skinless Turkey Leg 19.6 1.44 7.4 6.0
Skinless Turkey Thigh 19.8 1.12 5.7 5.7
Skinless Mixed Turkey Meat 22.1 1.60 7.2 6.5
Turkey Breast with Skin 23.0 1.04 4.5 5.4
Turkey Leg with Skin 18.9 1.92 10.1 9.7
Turkey Thigh with Skin 19.1 1.68 8.8 10.3
Mixed Turkey Meat with Skin 18.4 2.88 15.6 17.9
Turkey Skin 12.3 6.56 53.6 49.4
Skinless Chicken Breast 23.7 0.62 2.6 2.1
87
Lamb and mutton
tissue %
Lean Lamb of the Leg 19.4 1.68 8.7 10.1
and Chump
Lean Lamb of the Loin and Best 18.4 1.76 9.5 18.0
End Neck
Lean Lamb of the Scrag 17.1 1.92 11.2 21.3
Shoulder Middle Neck and
Breast
90VL Leg and Chump 17.9 1.92 10.7 17.8
80VL Loin and Best End Neck 16.0 1.84 11.5 29.8
80VL Scrag Shoulder Middle 15.9 2.00 12.6 27.4
Neck and Breast
Lean Fore-quarter Mutton 16.7 2.00 12.0 23.1
Lean Hind-quarter Mutton 19.3 1.76 9.1 11.6
80VL Fore-quarter Mutton 15.4 2.08 13.5 29.1
90VL Hind-quarter Mutton 17.7 1.92 10.9 19.6
*T
he typical values for collagen, protein and fat outlined above are sourced from the FSA UK Guidelines on the Labelling and Declaration
of Meat Content in Meat Products (September 2002) and are based on either published values derived from the Analytical Methods
Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry papers or on long-term accepted values. The table of typical values identifies various meat
cuts with reference to their visual lean (VL) content.
88
7. GLOSSARY
Approval and registration: under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, food business operators
are permitted to place products of animal origin manufactured in the EU on the market
only if they have been prepared and handled exclusively in establishments that:
(a) meet the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004, those of Annexes II
and III of Regulation (EC) 853/2004, and other requirements of food law
and
(b) that the competent authority has registered or, where required in accordance with
paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) 853/2004, approved.
Approval number: under Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004, the competent authority must give
each approved establishment, including those with conditional approval, an approval number, to
which codes may be added to indicate the types of products of animal origin manufactured.
Food business: a food business (Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002) is defined as any undertaking,
whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related
to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.
Food business operator: a food business operator (Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002) is defined
as the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of food law are met
within the food business under their control.
Labelling: under Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, labelling means any words, particulars,
trademarks, brand name, pictorial matter or symbol relating to a food and placed on any
packaging, document, notice, label, ring or collar accompanying or referring to such food.
Prepacked food: under Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, prepacked food is defined as any single
item for presentation as such to the final consumer and to mass caterers, consisting of a food and
the packaging into which it was put before being offered for sale, whether such packaging encloses
the food completely or only partially, but in any event in such a way that the contents cannot be
altered without opening or changing the packaging. ‘Prepacked food’ does not cover foods packed
on the sale premises at the consumer’s request or prepacked for direct sale.
Products of animal origin: under Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, ‘products of animal origin’
refer to foods of animal origin, including honey and blood; live bivalve molluscs, live echinoderms,
live tunicates and live marine gastropods intended for human consumption; and other animals
destined to be prepared with a view to being supplied live to the final consumer.
Traceability: under Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, traceability is defined as the ability to trace
and follow a food, a feed, a food-producing animal or substance intended to be or expected to
be incorporated into a food or feed through all stages of production, processing and distribution.
89
DEFINITIONS RELATING TO MEAT
(All from Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 unless otherwise stated)
Carcase is defined as the body of an animal after slaughter and dressing.
Collagen is the protein-based product derived from animal bones, hides, skins and tendons
manufactured in accordance with the relevant requirements of this Regulation.
Cut meat (Regulation (EC) 1760/2000) is defined as meat which has been cut into small cubes,
slices or other individual portions that do not require further cutting by an operator before being
bought by the final consumer and that can be directly used by that consumer. This definition does
not cover minced meat and trimmings.
Domestic ungulates are domestic bovine (including Bubalus and Bison species), porcine, ovine
and caprine animals, and domestic solipeds.
Gelatine is the natural, soluble protein (gelling or non-gelling) obtained by the partial hydrolysis
of collagen produced from bones, hides and skins, tendons and sinews of animals.
Farmed game are farmed ratites and farmed land mammals other than domestic ungulates.
Formed meat (Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011) is defined as the meat products, meat
preparations and fishery products which may give the impression that they are made of a whole
piece of meat (or fish), but actually consist of different pieces combined together by other
ingredients, including food additives and food enzymes or by other means. Such meat must be
indicated by the term ‘formed meat’ (or fish).
Fresh meat is defined as meat that has not undergone any preserving process other than chilling,
freezing or quick-freezing, including meat that is vacuum-wrapped or wrapped in a controlled
atmosphere.
Lagomorphs are rabbits, hares and rodents.
Meat (Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004) means the edible parts of domestic ungulates, poultry,
lagomorphs, wild game, farmed game, small wild game and large wild game, and includes blood.
Meat (as an ingredient in a composite product: Regulation (EC) 1169/2011) means meat and the
name(s)(3) of the animal species from which it comes: skeletal muscles(2) of mammalian and bird
species recognised as fit for human consumption, with naturally included or adherent tissue where
the total fat and connective tissue content does not exceed the values indicated below and where
the meat constitutes an ingredient of another food.
90
Maximum fat and connective tissue contents for ingredients designated by the term ‘… meat’
Species Fat content Collagen/meat

protein ratio(1)
Mammals (other than 25% 25%

rabbits and porcines) and
mixtures of species with
mammals predominating
Porcines 30% 25%
Birds and rabbits 15% 10%
(1)
The collagen/meat protein ratio is expressed as the percentage of collagen in meat
protein. The collagen content means the hydroxyproline content multiplied by a factor
of 8.
If these maximum limits are exceeded, but all the criteria for the definition of ‘meat’ are
satisfied, the ‘… meat’ content must be adjusted downwards accordingly and the list of
ingredients must mention, in addition to the term ‘… meat’, the presence of fat and/or
connective tissue.
The products covered by the definition of ‘mechanically separated meat’ are excluded from
this definition.
(1)
Council Directive (EC) No. 1324/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common
organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural
products (Single CMO Regulation) (OJ L 299, 16.11.2007, p.1).
(2)
he diaphragm and masseters are part of the skeletal muscles while the heart, tongue
T
and muscles of the head (other than the masseters), the muscles of the carpus, the
tarsus and the tail are excluded.
(3)
For labelling in English, this designation may be replaced by the generic name of the
ingredient for the animal species concerned.
91
Mechanically separated meat (MSM) means the product obtained by removing meat from
flesh-bearing bones after boning or from poultry carcases, using mechanical means, resulting
in the loss or modification of the muscle fibre structure. The designation on the label will be
‘mechanically separated meat’ and the name(s)(3) of the animal species from which it comes.
Meat preparations are defined as fresh meat, including meat that has been reduced to fragments,
which has had foodstuffs, seasonings or additives added to it or which has undergone processes
insufficient to modify the internal muscle fibre structure of the meat and thus to eliminate the
characteristics of fresh meat.
Meat products are defined as processed products resulting from the processing of meat or from
the further processing of such processed products, so that the cut surface shows that the product
no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat.
Minced meat is defined as boned meat that has been minced into fragments and contains less
than 1% salt.
Offal is defined as fresh meat other than that of the carcase, including viscera and blood.
Poultry are farmed birds, including birds that are not considered as domestic, but which are
farmed as domestic animals, with the exception of ratites (e.g. ostrich, emu).
Viscera is defined as the organs of the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities, as well as the
trachea and oesophagus and, in birds, the crop.
Wild game are wild ungulates and lagomorphs, as well as other land mammals that are hunted for
human consumption and are considered to be wild game under the applicable law in the Member
State concerned. They include mammals living in enclosed territory under conditions of freedom
similar to those of wild game, as well as wild birds that are hunted for human consumption.
Small wild game are wild game birds and lagomorphs living freely in the wild.
Large wild game are wild land mammals living freely in the wild that do not fall within the
definition of small wild game.
92
DEFINITIONS RELATING TO BEEF
(all from Regulation (EC) No. 1825/2000 unless otherwise stated)
Batch is defined as meat, on the bone or boned, for example, carcases, quarters or boned pieces
of meat, cut up, minced or packed together under practically identical conditions.
Final consumer is defined as the ultimate consumer of cut meat who does not use it as part of
a food business operation or activity.
Prepared beef (Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 and S.I. 307/2006 as amended) is defined as beef
within the meaning assigned to it by Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 which has been cooked or
otherwise prepared for human consumption in the caterer’s establishment, and beef within the
meaning which has been bought in cooked.
Prepacked cut meat is defined as the individual pack offered unaltered to the final consumer or
to an establishment engaged solely in retail sales, made up of cut meat and the packaging in which
it was packed before being offered for sale, whether the packaging covers it fully or partially, but
such that the content cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging.
Non-prepacked cut meat is defined as cut meat displayed for sale non-prepacked in outlets
for sale to the final consumer and all pieces of meat displayed for sale non-prepacked in outlets
for sale to the final consumer, intended to be cut at the request of the final consumer.
Minced meat is defined as any meat that has been minced into fragments or passed through
a spiral-screw mincer, and that falls within one of the CN codes referred to in Article 12 of
Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 (i.e. CN codes 0201, 0202, 0206 10 95 and 0206 29 91) and
contains less than 1% salt.
Retail is defined as the handling and/or processing of meat and its storage at the point of sale
or delivery to the final consumer, including caterers, company canteens, institutional catering,
restaurants and other similar food service operations, shops, supermarket distribution centres
and wholesale outlets.
Trimmings are defined as small pieces of meat recognised as fit for human consumption
produced exclusively during trimming operations during the boning of carcases and/or the cutting
up of meat.
93
DEFINITIONS RELATING TO POULTRYMEAT
(all from Regulation (EC) No. 1308/2013)
Poultrymeat is defined as poultrymeat suitable for human consumption, which has not
undergone any treatment other than cold treatment. Poultrymeat and poultrymeat preparations
must be marketed in one of the following conditions: (i) fresh poultrymeat, (ii) frozen poultrymeat
or (iii) quick-frozen poultrymeat.
(i) Fresh poultrymeat is defined as poultrymeat which has not been stiffened at any time
by the cooling process prior to being kept at a temperature not below – 2 °C and not
higher than + 4 °C. However, Member States may lay down slightly different temperature
requirements for the minimum length of time necessary for the cutting and handling of
fresh poultrymeat performed in retail shops or in premises adjacent to sales points, where
the cutting and handling are performed solely for the purpose of supplying the consumer
directly on the spot.
Frozen poultrymeat is defined as poultrymeat which must be frozen as soon as possible

(ii)
within the constraints of normal slaughtering procedures and kept at a temperature no
higher than – 12 °C at any time.
Quick-frozen poultrymeat is defined as poultrymeat which is to be kept at a temperature

(iii)
no higher than –18 °C at any time within the tolerances as provided for in Council Directive
89/108/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption.
Poultrymeat preparation is defined as poultrymeat, including poultrymeat that has been

reduced to fragments, which has had foodstuffs, seasonings or additives added to it, or which has
undergone processes insufficient to modify the internal muscle fibre structure of the meat.
Fresh poultrymeat preparation is defined as a poultrymeat preparation for which fresh

poultrymeat has been used. However, Member States may lay down slightly different temperature
requirements to be applied for the minimum length of time necessary and only to the extent
necessary to facilitate the cutting and handling performed in the factory during the production of
fresh poultrymeat preparations.
Poultrymeat product is defined as the products resulting from the processing of poultrymeat
or from the further processing of such processed products, so that the cut surface shows that
the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh poultrymeat.
94
NOTES
95
NOTES
96
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
The Exchange, George’s Dock, IFSC,
Dublin 1, D01 P2V6
Tel: +353 1 817 1300

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fsai.ie
ISBN 978-1-910348-16-1

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17 GUIDANCE NOTE

Guidance Note No. 17

Tel: +353 1 817 1300

Applications for reproduction should be made to the FSAI Information Unit

2. EU LEGISLATION AND IRISH LAW 7

SECTION A: LABELLING OF MEAT 13

3. LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION RULES 13

APPENDIX 2. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION OF ID MARK

APPENDIX 3. SAMPLE WHITE BOARD AND ‘IN-TRAY’ LABELS 50

APPENDIX 4. LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEEF

SECTION B: LABELLING OF MEAT AS AN INGREDIENT 53

6. CALCULATION OF MEAT CONTENT 64

APPENDIX 5. LIST OF CATEGORIES OF INGREDIENTS WHICH

APPENDIX 6. TYPICAL PERCENTAGE VALUES FOR PROTEIN,

1.1 Aim of document

The purpose of this guidance note is to:

Table 1. European and Irish meat labelling and traceability legislation

European legislation National legislation

Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 For food businesses supervised by the

Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 European Communities (Food and Feed

Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 European Communities (Food and Feed

Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 Health (Provision of Food Allergen

Commission Regulation (EC) For food businesses supervised by the

Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 European Union (Provision of Food

Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 European Union (Provision of Food

Specified risk material

Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 European Union (Transmissible

Beef and beef products labelling

Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 European Communities (Labelling of Beef

Council Regulation (EC) European Communities (Marketing of

Commission Regulation (EC) European Communities (Marketing

Commission Regulation (EU) European Communities (Food and Feed

Commission Regulation (EC) European Communities (Food and Feed

Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 European Communities (Food and Feed

Commission Implementing S.I. No. 113 of 2015 – European Union

3. LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION RULES

3.1 General labelling

• As to the characteristics of the food and, in particular, as to its nature, identity,

Where do the regulations apply?

3.1.1 Mandatory information required for all prepacked foodstuffs

(a) The name of the food1

(a) The name of the food1

• CN0203: meat of swine – fresh, chilled or frozen

That system must be applied in such a way as to ensure:

(b) The words referred to in point (a) must be accompanied by:

• the date itself, or,

3.2.1 Country of origin (meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry)

• ‘Reared in: (name of the Member State or third country)’

• ‘Reared in: several Member States of the EU’ or

3.2.3 Beef labelling system

What information is required?

3.2.3.1 Obligation to keep and maintain records

Minced beef labels must contain the following labelling information:

6. Animals from Member States and third countries

3.2.5 Country of origin labelling – catering establishments, preparing beef

Slaughtered at over six Slaughtered at over Slaughtered at over

Slaughtered at under six Slaughtered at under Slaughtered at under

Slaughtered at under six N/A N/A

With respect to country of rearing, operators and organisations must

APPENDIX 2. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION OF ID MARK

APPENDIX 4. LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR BEEF

Table 12. Information to be provided to the consumer when beef is bought in

Table 13. Information required when beef is bought in loose/wholesale cuts