European Union: Agreement use sales description 'veal'

Wednesday 20 June 2007

Agriculture Council: Agreement on clearer use of the sales description 'veal'.

European Union agriculture ministers today agreed to clarify the marketing conditions for meat from bovine animals aged twelve months or less. The new rules will require the use of fixed sales descriptions for these meats in the various Member States coupled with an indication of the age category of the animals at slaughter. The aim is to improve the transparency on the market and to help consumers to recognise precisely what they are buying. The change follows lengthy discussions with all interested parties, including an internet consultation on consumers' understanding of the term 'veal'. It comes in the wake of requests from the trade and from Member States for clearer rules to reflect the different production systems in different Member States. This regulation will enhance the functioning of the Single Market and provide better information for consumers.

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