Beef and veal: common organisation of the markets COM (amend. regul. 805/68/EEC)

OBJECTIVE: the object of the proposal for a Council Regulation is to control or restore balance on the market for beef and veal in the wake in particular of the BSE crisis, which has brought about a sharp fall in consumption, a fall in prices paid to producers and very substantial buying-in. SUBSTANCE: the proposed amendments cover: - discontinuation of the second tranche of premium for uncastrated male bovine animals and an increase in the first tranche of premium; - reduction in the ceilings for male bovine animals; - adjustment of the extensification premium: the development of extensive beef cattle raising is fostered to the extent that 60% of the animals on which the premium is currently paid will qualify for the higher premium of ECU 54; - making the application of the calf processing premium compulsory in all Member States, extending its scope to cover all male calves, and authorizing the Member States to extend it to animals withdrawn before they are 20 days old on condition they introduce the controls necessary to eliminate from the human food chain the animals thus withdrawn. �