EU labelling threat to beef

28 January 2000



EU labelling threat to beef

THE latest EU proposals on beef labelling are causing concern to the Meat & Livestock Commission.

The EU plans to make all labelling more robust, with country of origin clearly stated. But further information must also be supplied.

Peter Hardwick, a manager for the MLC, says this would require all the stages in the chain to be demonstrated.

He said: “As the proposals stand at the moment, we could have an animal born in the Netherlands, fattened in France, slaughtered in Spain and boned in Portugal.

Scotch beef will be treated separately.

It is described under EU rules as a “protected geographical indication” and can be classified as such if the animal has been in Scotland for a minimum 90-day period prior to slaughter.

• Europe puts off beef labelling for a year, FWi, 15 December, 1999
• EC delays uniform beef labelling, FWi, 31 March, 1998
  
• The Herald 28/01/2000 page 31