Beef Labelling

Compulsory rules now apply for the labelling of fresh or frozen beef from animals slaughtered on or after 1st September 2000. Some of the requirements also apply to minced beef. However meat products such as pies, sausages and burgers, which contain other ingredients, are not covered by these requirements (See Paragraph 4.1 of the MAFF Guide for further details).

Non-Pre-packed Meat/Mince (loose or pre-packed on demand)

Voluntary Labelling Scheme

Beef Labelling Section Helpline

All fresh/frozen beef (other than mince) offered for sale must be labelled with the following five indications (See Paragraph 10 of the MAFF Guide for further details): -

1. Reference number or code - this should be a number, which will ensure the traceability of the meat back through the cutting plant/slaughterhouse to the farm. For a retailer there must be a link back to his/her supplier (See paragraph 10.2).

2. “Slaughtered in: (Name of Member State or third country)” (See paragraphs 10.4).

3. Licence number of slaughterhouse - this is the veterinary licence number which has been allocated to the slaughterhouse premises and which appears on the health mark stamp. NOTE: Only one licence number must appear on the beef label, therefore beef from more than one slaughterhouse must not be mixed to form a pack or batch (See paragraphs 10.4)
e.g. “Slaughtered in: UK (1234)”.

4. “Cutting in: (Name of Member State or third country)” (See paragraph 10.5).

5. Licence number(s) of cutting plant(s) - this is the veterinary licence number which has been allocated to the cutting plant. Where beef passes through more than one cutting plant all the licence numbers must be shown. Where beef is cut in unlicensed premises, e.g. butchers, farm shops or other shops, the address of the premises must be shown in place of the licence number. Where the beef is cut and sold on the same unlicensed premises the indication may state “on these premises" (See paragraph 10.6)
e.g. “Cutting in: UK (5678)”.

Additional Requirements

(See Paragraph 11 of the MAFF Guide for further details)

From 1st January 2002 additional compulsory labelling will be required.
Fresh/frozen beef the additional indications will be:

6. The country of birth of the animal e.g. “Born: UK” (See paragraph 11.3),

7. All the countries in which the animal was fattened e.g. “Reared in: UK” (See paragraph 11.4).

If the animal is born, raised and slaughtered in the same country, then the label may, instead of indications (6) and (7), state that country e.g. “Origin: UK” (See paragraph 11.5).

Minced Beef (See Paragraph 12 of the MAFF Guide for further details)
All minced beef must be labelled either with the above information, or with the following indications: -

NOTE: Beef minced in the UK may be derived from animals slaughtered in more than one, but not more than two countries e.g. “Origin: UK and Ireland” (See paragraph 12.3).

Pre-packed Meat/Mince

All pre-packed beef must carry the required information on the packaging. If smaller packages are grouped together and sold in a carton, the required information may be shown on the outer carton.

Note: Compulsory information is shown in bold. Voluntary information requiring MAFF approval is shown in italics. (The other information shown is that which has to be given by other legislative requirements)

* Where all animals from which the minced beef is derived from have been born, raised and slaughtered in the UK.

Information must be on the meat or displayed within the shop e.g. on a sign on the wall visible to your customers (see examples below). The display area must ensure that the meat offered for sale is distinguishable so that the customer can tell which information applies to it.

Non-packed Meat

Non-packed Minced Beef

Voluntary Labelling Scheme

(See Paragraph 15-19 of the MAFF Guide for further details)

The current voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme which has been in operation in the UK since 1997 complements the above compulsory labelling. Until January 2002 voluntary claims about origin e.g. “UK/British” will remain subject to approval and verification under the Scheme. After that date they will be subject to the compulsary origin labelling explained above.

Other labelling information such as the following will also require approval under the Scheme, but this will continue after January 2002 (See paragraph 16):-

Region, e.g. English, local
Method or length of maturation
Method of slaughter, e.g. kosher, halal
Method of production, e.g. organic, grass fed
Date of slaughter
Age
Breed

Further information and application forms for the Beef Labelling Scheme are available from:-

Beef Labelling Section Helpline

: Tel: 020 7270 8060/8296 Fax: 020 7270 8836
Address: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Room 416, Whitehall Place (West Block), London SW1A 2HH
Website:Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)