Common organisation of agricultural markets (CMO): marketing standards for poultrymeat

The European Parliament adopted by 546 votes to 12 against with 1 abstention a legislative resolution amending, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat. Parliament disagreed with the Commission proposal to authorise the marketing of poultrymeat for human consumption even where it has received anti-microbe treatment. Accordingly, it amended the definition of poultrymeat.

The main amendments are as follows:

Definition of poultrymeat: the Commission proposal aims at altering the definition of poultrymeat with a view to authorising the marketing of such meat where it has received anti-microbe treatment against the surface contamination of poultry carcasses. However, Parliament states in the amended text, that 'poultrymeat' means poultrymeat which is suitable for human consumption which has not undergone any treatment other than cold treatment.

Members also amended the definition of “fresh poultrymeat” and stipulated that fresh poultrymeat, where intended for the production of meat preparations, may undergo a process of stiffening at temperatures below 2°C for a brief period: indicating the date of slaughter shall be mandatory on all poultrymeat products. The Commission proposal had stated that Member States may lay down different temperature requirements for a short period for the cutting and storage of fresh poultrymeat performed in retail shops or in premises adjacent to sales points, where the cutting and storage are performed solely for the purpose of supplying the consumer directly on the spot. Parliament deleted this phrase.

Mandatory labelling: the resolution states that the date of slaughter of a product should be mandatory for all poultrymeat products. So as to provide optimal information to consumers, indicating the date of slaughter of the bird should be mandatory where the labelling of all poultrymeat products is concerned.

Parliament also added the following: the name of the food in the labelling of any poultrymeat product shall include an indication of: (i) any added ingredient of a different animal origin to the rest of the meat; and (ii) any added water making up more than 5 % of the weight of the product.

Indication of price: the price per kilogram of the food shall be based solely on the drained net weight.