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Beef Labelling Scheme


In 1998 regulations governing the labelling of beef came into force.  The purpose of the regulations are to ensure that information provided to consumers in respect of beef is both accurate and reliable.

From 1 April 1998, any operator or organisation labelling beef with anything other than certain easily checked information at the point of sale, must obtain prior approval for the label from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The following is the type of information covered:

  • origin (i.e.member state, third country or holding where the animal from which the beef was produced was born, fattened or slaughtered),
  • identification number and sex,
  • method of fattening,
  • information on slaughtering (e.g. age at or date of slaughter)
  • method or length of maturation of beef
  • breed
  • other information not easily checked at point of sale.

A labelling specification should be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Food for approval on Form BLI in respect of beef intended for intra Community trade and form BL2 in respect of beef for sale on the domestic market

For the purpose of verifying the control system and checking that the labelling information is accurate, it will be necessary for the operator or organisation to designate an independent control body, accredited or seeking accreditation to European Standard EN/45011, and recognised by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

NSAI is accredited to EN 45011 by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB - Reg No. 6001) as an Independent Control Body and recognised by the Department of Agriculture and Food for verifying the control system and checking that the beef labelling information is accurate.

NSAI must carry out the required regular inspections on the basis of risk analysis which will take into account, in particular, the complexity of the specification concerned.  An inspection report must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Food in respect of each such inspection. The first such report must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Food within four months of the date of approval of the application.  This and subsequent reports must indicate whether the control system is adequate to meet the requirements of the scheme and the regulations, any shortcomings observed together with remedial measures proposed and deadlines for implementation.

References
Council Regulation (EC) 1760/2000. Establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 SI 435 of 2000. European Communities(Labelling of Beef and Beef Products) Regulations,2000

Links
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development www.irlgov.ie/daff.ie.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland www.fsai.ie.
The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB - Reg No. 6001) www.inab.ie.

For enquiries and applications click here certification enquiries

Contact 
Vincent Delaney
Operations Manager
Food/Agriculture/Security
tel: 353 61 332882
fax: 353 61 332982
email: Vincent Delaney

VD Rev. 10




Last Updated - [03 Sep 2007 @ 12:23:07]

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