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14.12.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
335/19
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1337/2013
of 13 December 2013
laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament
and of the Council 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
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
with Articles 23 to 26 of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2913/92 ( 2 ). For animal products that concept refers to
the country in which the product is wholly obtained
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
which applied to meat means the country in which the
Union,
animal was born, reared and slaughtered. When several
countries have been involved in the production of a food,
that concept refers to the country where the products
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the
have undergone their last substantial and economically
European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011
justified processing or working. However, applying it to
on the provision of food information to consumers, amending
situations in which the meat comes from animals which
Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the
were born, reared and slaughtered in different countries
European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing
would not sufficiently inform the consumers about the
Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive
origin of that meat. Therefore, in all those situations it is
90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive
necessary to provide for an indication, on the label, of
2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council,
the Member State or third country where the animal has
Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and
been reared for a period representing a substantial part of
Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (
the normal cycle of rearing for each species, as well as of

1 ), and in particular
Article 26(8) thereof,
the Member State or third country where it has been
slaughtered. The term ‘origin’ should be reserved for
meat obtained from animals born, reared and
slaughtered, and therefore wholly obtained, in one
Whereas:
single Member State or third country.
(1) Article
26(2)
of
Regulation
(EU)
No
1169/2011
sets
out (4) For the cases in which the animal has been reared in
the obligation to indicate the country of origin or place
several Member States or third countries and the
of provenance on the label of meat falling within the
rearing period cannot be met, an appropriate indication
Combined Nomenclature codes listed in Annex XI to
of the place of rearing should be provided for so that the
that Regulation, i.e. fresh, chilled and frozen meat of
consumer needs are better met and unnecessary
swine, sheep or goats and poultry.
complexity of the label is avoided.
(2) A
balance
needs
to
be
struck
between
the
need
of
the
consumers to be informed and the additional cost for
(5) In
addition,
rules
should
be
laid
down
for
packages
operators and national authorities, which finally has an
containing pieces of meat of the same or different
impact on the final price of the product. The impact
species obtained from animals reared and slaughtered
assessment and a study commissioned by the
in different Member States or third countries.
Commission examined several options for indicating
the country of origin or place of provenance with
respect to the most relevant stages of the life of the
(6) This
labelling
system
requires
traceability
rules
at
all
animals. The results show that consumers require
stages of production and distribution of the meat, from
foremost the information on the place where the
slaugthering until packaging to ensure the link between
animal was reared. At the same time, providing
the labelled meat and the animal or group of animals
mandatory information on the place of birth of the
from which that meat has been obtained.
animal would require the establishment of new tracea
bility systems at farm level with the respective costs
stemming therefrom, while labelling the place of
(7)
Specific rules should be provided for meat imported from
slaughter can be done at an affordable cost and gives
third countries where the information required for
valuable information to the consumer. As regards the
labelling is not available.
geographical level there is evidence that indication of
the Member State or third country would be the most
relevant information for consumers.
(8) As
regards
minced
meat
and
trimmings,
given
the
char
acteristics of their production processes, operators should
be allowed to make use of a simplified system of indi
(3) Within
Regulation
(EU)
No
1169/2011
the
concept
of
cations.
‘country of origin’ of a food is determined in accordance
( 2 ) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 estab
( 1 ) OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18.
lishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1).

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L 335/20
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
14.12.2013
(9)
In view of the commercial interest of the information to
consumption and produced exclusively during trimming
be provided under this Regulation, food business
operations, when boning of carcases or when cutting up
operators should be given the possibility to add to the
of meat;
mandatory indications on the label other elements
referring to the provenance of the meat.
(b) ‘batch’ means meat, falling within the Combined Nomen
clature codes listed in Annex XI to Regulation (EU) No
(10) As the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) No
1169/2011, obtained from a single species, with or
1169/2011 are applicable from 13 December 2014,
without bone, whether or not cut or minced, that has
and Article 47 thereof provides for application of the
been cut, minced or packed under practically identical
implementing rules under that Regulation as from 1
conditions.
April in each calendar year, this Regulation should start
to apply on 1 April 2015.
Article 3
Traceability
(11) The
measures
provided
for
in
this
Regulation
are
in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing
1. Food
business
operators,
at
each
stage
of
production
and
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
distribution of the meat referred to in Article 1, shall have in
place and use an identification and registration system.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
2. That
system
shall
be
applied
in
such
a
way
as
to
ensure:
Article 1
(a) the link between the meat and the animal or group of
Subject matter and scope
animals from which it has been obtained, at the slaughter
stage this link being the responsibility of the slaughterhouse;
This Regulation lays down rules on the indication of the
and
country of origin or place of provenance on the label of
fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine, meat of sheep or
goats and meat of poultry, falling within the respective
(b) the transmission of the information relating to the indi
Combined Nomenclature codes listed in Annex XI to Regulation
cations referred to in Articles 5, 6 or 7, as appropriate,
(EU) No 1169/2011.
together with the meat, to the operators at the subsequent
stages of production and distribution.
Article 2
Each food business operator shall be responsible for the appli
Definitions
cation of the identification and registration system, as laid down
in the first subparagraph, within the stage of production and
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the definition of ‘food
distribution at which it operates.
business operator’ in point (3) of Article 3 of Regulation (EC)
No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Coun
cil ( 1 ), the definition of ‘establishment’ in point (c) of Article 2(1)
The food business operator who packs or labels the meat in
of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament
accordance with Articles 5, 6 or 7 shall ensure the correlation
and of the Council ( 2 ), as well as the definitions of ‘minced
between the batch code identifying the meat supplied to the
meat’, ‘slaughterhouse’ and ‘cutting plant’ laid down respectively
consumer or mass caterer and the relevant batch or batches of
in points 1.13, 1.16 and 1.17 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No
meat from which the pack or labelled batch is constituted. All
853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 )
packs with the same batch code shall correspond to the same
shall apply.
indications in accordance with Articles 5, 6 or 7.
2. The following definitions shall also apply:
3. The
system
referred
to
in
paragraph
1
shall
record,
in
particular, the arrival at and the departure from the estab
lishment of the food business operator, of animals, carcases
(a) ‘trimmings’ means small pieces of meat, falling within the
or cuts, as appropriate, and ensure a correlation between
Combined Nomenclature codes listed in Annex XI to Regu
arrivals and departures.
lation (EU) No 1169/2011, recognised as fit for human
Article 4
( 1 ) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles
Group of animals
and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety
Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ
1. The
size
of
the
group
of
animals
referred
to
in
Article
3
L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1).
shall be defined by:
( 2 ) Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (OJ
L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1).
(a) the number of carcases cut together and constituting one
( 3 ) Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for
batch for the cutting plant concerned in case of cutting of
food of animal origin (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55).
carcases;

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EN
14.12.2013 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
335/21
(b) the number of carcases the meat of which constitutes one
(c) the batch code identifying the meat supplied to the
batch for the cutting or mincing plant concerned in case of
consumer or mass caterer.
further cutting or mincing.
Where the rearing period referred to in point (a) is not attained
2. The
size
of
a
batch
shall
not
exceed
the
production
of
one in any of the Members States or third countries where the
day in a single establishment.
animal was reared, the indication referred to in point (a) shall
be replaced by ‘Reared in: several Member States of the EU’ or,
where the meat or the animals have been imported into the
3. Except the case where Article 7 is applied, when consti
Union, by ‘Reared in: several non-EU countries’ or ‘Reared in:
tuting the batches, the establishments in which meat is cut or
several EU and non-EU countries’.
minced shall ensure that all carcasses in a batch correspond to
animals to the meat of which identical labelling indications
apply in accordance with Article 5(1) or with Article 5(2).
However, where the rearing period referred to in point (a) is not
attained in any of the Member States or third countries where
the animal was reared, the indication referred to in point (a)
Article 5
may be replaced by ‘Reared in: (list of the Member States or
Labelling of meat
third countries where the animal was reared)’ if the food
business operator proves to the satisfaction of the competent
1. The
label
of
meat
referred
to
in
Article
1
intended
for authority that the animal was reared in those Member States or
supplying to the final consumer or to mass caterers shall
third countries.
contain the following indications:
2. The
indications
referred
to
in
points
(a)
and
(b)
of
(a) the Member State or third country in which the rearing
paragraph 1 may be replaced by the indication ‘Origin: (name
took place indicated as ‘Reared in: (name of the Member
of Member State or third country)’ if the food business operator
State or third country)’, in accordance with the following
proves to the satisfaction of the competent authority that the
criteria:
meat referred to in Article 1 has been obtained from animals
born, reared and slaughtered in one single Member State or
(i) for swine:
third country.
— in case the animal is slaughtered older than 6
3. Where several pieces of meat, of the same or of different
months, the Member State or third country in
species, correspond to different labelling indications in
which the last rearing period of at least 4 months
accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 and are presented in the
took place,
same pack to the consumer or mass caterer, the label shall
indicate:
— in case the animal is slaughtered younger than 6
months and with a live weight of at least 80 kilo
(a) the list of the relevant Member States or third countries in
grams, the Member State or third country in which
accordance with paragraphs 1 or 2, for each species;
the rearing period after the animal has reached 30
kilograms took place,
(b) the batch code identifying the meat supplied to the
consumer or mass caterer.
— in case the animal is slaughtered younger than 6
months and with a live weight of less than 80 kilo
Article 6
grams, the Member State or third country in which
the whole rearing period took place;
Derogation for meat from third countries
By way of derogation from point (a) of Article 5(1), the label of
(ii) for sheep and goats: the Member State or third country
meat referred to in Article 1 imported for placing on the Union
in which the last rearing period of at least 6 months
market, and for which the information provided for in point (a)
took place or, in case the animal is slaughtered younger
of Article 5(1) is not available, shall contain the indication
than 6 months, the Member State or third country in
‘Reared in: non-EU’ and ‘Slaughtered in: (Name of the third
which the whole rearing period took place,
country where the animal was slaughtered)’.
(iii) for poultry: the Member State or third country in which
Article 7
the last rearing period of at least one month took place
Derogations for minced meat and trimmings
or, in case the animal is slaughtered younger than one
month, the Member State or third country in which the
By way of derogation from points (a) and (b) of Article 5(1),
whole rearing period after the animal was placed for
from Article 5(2) and from Article 6, as regards minced meat
fattening took place;
and trimmings, the following indications may be applied:
(b) the Member State or third country in which the slaughter
(a) ‘Origin: EU’, where minced meat or trimmings are produced
took place indicated as ‘Slaughtered in: (name of the
exclusively from meat obtained from animals born, reared
Member State or third country)’; and
and slaughtered in different Member States;

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L 335/22
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
14.12.2013
(b) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: EU’, where minced meat or
The additional information referred to in the first paragraph
trimmings are produced exclusively from meat obtained
shall not be contradictory to the indications referred to in
from animals reared and slaughtered in different Member
Articles 5, 6 or 7, and shall comply with the rules of Chapter
States;
V of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
(c) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: non-EU’, where minced meat or
trimmings are produced exclusively from meat imported
Article 9
into the Union;
Entry into force and application
(d) ‘Reared in: non-EU’ and ‘Slaughtered in: EU’ where minced
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following
meat or trimmings are produced exclusively from meat
that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
obtained from animals imported into the Union as
Union.
animals for slaughter and slaughtered in one or different
Member States;
It shall apply from 1 April 2015. It shall not apply to meat
(e) ‘Reared and slaughtered in: EU and non-EU’ where minced
which has been lawfully placed on the Union market before
meat or trimmings are produced from:
1 April 2015 until the stocks are exhausted.
(i) meat obtained from animals reared and slaughtered in
It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all
one or different Member States and from meat imported
Member States.
into the Union; or
(ii) meat obtained from animals imported into the Union
and slaughtered in one or different Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 December 2013.
Article 8
Additional voluntary information on the label
For the Commission
Food business operators may supplement the indications
referred to in Articles 5, 6 or 7 with additional information
The President
concerning the provenance of the meat.
José Manuel BARROSO

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