Also the Technical Inspectorate of the Rural Payments Agency has an enforcement role for beef labelling within the abattoir sector.
Special rules apply to the labelling of beef and veal and these are described later in this section. These are in addition to the general rules which apply to all meat.
Slaughter tags may also include other information, such as:
Slaughter tag
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The approval number of the slaughterhouse, which indicates precisely where the animal was slaughtered. Each plant has a unique reference number.
The approval number of the cutting plant.
Carcase classification. This gives you the fat and conformation grades for the carcase, in accordance with the EU classification grid.
Cold weight of the carcase.
The kill date and time.
The batch number.
The sex of the animal e.g. heifer, steer.
A = young bull is under 24 months
B = mature bull is over 24 months
C = steer
D = cow
E = heifer
The kill or serial number.
Date of Birth.
Abattoir Name.
Producer/Farmer.
Individual ear tag of animal
Bar codes which captures all the data on the label – used for stock control
Slap mark SL0012
a. SL = the area
b. 0012 = the farm ID
Fat depth or P2 reading
Type of lamb
a. NSL = New season lamb
b. OSL = Old season lamb
c. MS = Mature Sheep (over 12 months or if 1 tooth has erupted)
This space can be used to describe if the product is of a specific type or status as agreed by Defra. For example;
a. Scotch
b. Welsh
c. Regional
d. Or any other PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) or TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed)
Beef labelling
As well as complying with the general rules, beef and veal, including minced beef, must be labelled with certain information throughout the supply chain, including in all retail outlets:
For beef, the following information must be provided:
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The country where the animal was born (e.g. UK).
The country or countries where the animal was reared.
The country of slaughter and the approval number of the slaughterhouse.
The country or countries where the meat was cut, and the approval number of the cutting plant (or an indication of the premises if not an approved cutting plant (e.g. a butcher’s shop).
The rules for minced beef are similar, requiring the traceability code, and an indication of the countries of slaughter and mincing, and other origin information if birth and rearing were not in the same country where the beef was minced.
The rules are reduced for beef imported from a country outside the EU, if all the usually required information is not available.
Click here for more information on why beef labeling is required.
Labelling at wholesale
Carcases sold at wholesale must be labelled as above.
Boxed product typically fresh or frozen vacuum packed meat must include:
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Traceability information sufficient to identify the supply chain. This can be presented in any appropriate way, including a readable code, but not a bar code or in any other form that requires the use of special equipment to be meaningful.
PDO, PGI and TSG status
The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed, or Certificate of Specific Character) qualifications have been developed by the European Commission to protect certain products and to give consumers information about their regional identity or specific character.
For PDO status – the product must be produced and processed and prepared in the geographical area. Its quality or characteristics must be essentially due to that area. In the UK, there are the following PDOs in the meat sector: Orkney beef, Orkney lamb, Shetland lamb.
For PGI status – the geographical link must occur in at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation. The product must possess a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to a geographical area. In the UK there are the following PGIs in the meat sector: Welsh beef, Welsh lamb, Scotch beef, Scotch lamb.
For TSG status – the product must be produced using traditional raw materials or be characterised by a traditional composition or a mode of production (or processing) reflecting a traditional type of production (or processing). In the UK the only TSG in the meat sector is traditional farmfresh turkeys.
Food that is not prepacked and food prepacked for direct sale
Fresh meat needs to be labelled with the name of the food (e.g. beef, lamb, pork) and a description of the meat (e.g. sirloin steak, chop) together with the weight and the price/kg or unit price.
Meat products need to be labelled with the name of the food e.g. beef olives, lamb curry, stuffed pork shoulder, together with the weight and the price per kg/unit price. The presence of additives (e.g. colour, preservative) and allergenic or irradiated ingredients must be indicated.
This information can be given by a notice in proximity to the food.
Pre-packed food (meat or meat products) needs to be labelled with the following information:
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The weight of the food.
The price per kg and unit price.
For meat products, a list of products including additives. Irradiated and allergenic ingredients must be indicated.
A ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date.
Storage conditions such as ‘keep refrigerated’.
The name and address of the manufacturer, the packer or the seller.
Origin information must be presented where it would be misleading to omit it.
Traceability information, sufficient to allow identification of the supply chain.
Nutritional information if a nutritional claim is made. This information is often included in the labelling of pre-packed meat products even if there is no claim.
Some names are specially protected under EC quality rules (e.g. PGI – Protected Geographical Indication) and these should be indicated where they apply.
They all have a set of welfare, quality control and traceability criteria, which need to be met before a producer or retailer are permitted to display them on their packs.
Click through to each logo for further information on their schemes.
Services, publications and websites
MLC Leaflet on How to label meat for the catering butcher
Defra beef labelling guide
Defra - EU Protected Food Names Scheme (PGI, PDO & TSG)
Nutrition Profile Labelling or Traffic Light Labelling
Food Standards Agency Labelling and Packaging Guidelines
