This snapshot taken on 05/11/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.

Food and Drink

Beef labelling

Important - Transfer of beef labelling work to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in Carlisle

Please note that the administration of the  beef labelling system for England transferred from Defra to the Rural Payments Agency on 30 April 2008. The RPA takes over responsibility for the day-to-day running of the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme and compulsory system for England, and becomes the overall UK lead on policy management of the system in place of Defra. This means that new scheme applications and requests for additional claims, and related enquiries, along with general advice on the system, is handled by the RPA. Defra’s Beef Labelling Section in London has been disbanded. A letter was issued to interested parties (below).

If you require advice on beef labelling please contact the RPA. The contact details are as follows:

Meat Technical Schemes (MTS)
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle CA3 8DX  

Telephone: 01228 640369
Fax: 01228 640524
e-mail: MTS.carlisle@rpa.gsi.gov.uk

Consultation on The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 (England)

European law introduces new rules on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less with effect from 1 July 2008 (Council Regulation ( EC) No. 1234/2007 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No.361/2008). The Government is required to introduce measures to enforce this EU legislation, which is directly applicable. The proposed Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 will incorporate enforcement powers for the existing EU Beef Labelling legislation as well as including enforcement powers for the new EU rules on the marketing of the meat from bovine animals aged 12 months or less. Defra has requested comments on our plans for enforcement in England.

Labelling of veal

The European Commission has been trying for some years to reach agreement on a single harmonised EU definition of veal. As a way forward the Commission decided in 2005 to carry out a public consultation to see if a consensus could be reached on a definition. Following its consultation the Commission has  agreed a definition divided into two sub-categories dependent on the age of the animal. This introduces compulsory labelling requirements with effect from 1 July 2008 for meat of bovine animals aged twelve months or less, with the requirements applying throughout the supply chain.

The  compulsory labelling requirements are divided into two sub-categories:

(a) meat from animals aged 8 months or less, and
(b) meat from animals aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months.

Operators in the UK will be  required to label the meat - whether home produced or imported - with two compulsory indications, as follows:

(i) a category identification letter ”V” or “Z” which denotes whether the animal was aged 8 months or less, or aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months;
(ii) the sales description i.e. “veal” (for animals aged 8 months or less) or “beef” (for animals aged over 8 months but not more than 12 months).

Views from interested organisations have been sought. See the consultation above.

Back to top

The following documents are for information:

See also

Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat PDF documents.

Page last modified: 4 November 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs