Communication of the classification results
1. The slaughterhouses, the classification agencies or the qualified classifiers provided for in Article 9(1)(a) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182 carrying out the classification in accordance with points A.II, A.III, B.II, C.II and C.III of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall communicate to the supplier of the animal, the results of the classification. That communication shall be, in paper form or by electronic means and shall indicate per carcass:
(a)
the classification results by means of the corresponding letters and figures referred to in points A.II, A.III, B.II, C.II and C.III of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, respectively;
(b)
the carcass weight established in accordance with Article 7 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182, specifying whether it relates to the warm or cold weight;
(c)
the carcass presentation applied at the moment of weighing and classifying on the hook; the indication of the carcass presentation shall not be compulsory if only one single carcass presentation is allowed within the territory or a region of the Member State concerned in accordance with the national legislation;
(d)
where applicable, that classification has been carried out using an automated grading technique.
2. Member States may require that the communication referred to in paragraph 1(a) includes subclasses, where such information is available.
On-the-spot checks
1. On-the-spot checks shall be carried out in all slaughterhouses applying the compulsory carcass classification as referred to in the first paragraph of Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.
2. The performance of the qualified classifiers and the applied grading methods as well as the classification, presentation and identification of the carcasses in the slaughterhouses referred to in points A.II, A.III, A.V, B.II, B.V, C.II, C.III, C.IV and C.V of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be checked on the spot and without prior warning by a body independent of the slaughterhouses, the classification agencies and the qualified classifiers.
The requirement to be independent of the classification agencies and the qualified classifiers shall not apply where the competent authority of a Member State itself carries out such controls.
3. Where the body responsible for on-the-spot checks does not fall under the authority of a competent authority, the competent authority shall verify that the on-the-spot checks are carried out correctly at least once a year, by means of physical supervision under the same conditions.
Minimum requirements of the on-the-spot checks
1. Where a risk assessment is carried out in a Member State to determine the minimum requirements for on-the-spot checks, the frequency of those checks and the minimum number of carcasses to be checked shall be determined on the basis of such risk assessment, particularly taking into account the number of animals slaughtered in the slaughterhouses concerned and the findings during previous on-the-spot checks in these slaughterhouses.
2. Where a risk assessment is not carried out in a Member State, on-the-spot checks shall be performed as follows:
(a)
in all slaughterhouses which slaughter 150 or more bovine animals aged eight months or more per week as an annual average, at least twice every three months; each on-the-spot check shall relate to at least 40 carcasses selected at random or, if less than 40 carcasses are available, to all carcasses;
(b)
in all slaughterhouses which slaughter 500 pigs or more per week as an annual average, at least twice every three months;
(c)
Member States shall determine the frequency of the on-the-spot checks and the minimum number of carcasses to be checked for slaughterhouses which:
(i)
slaughter less than 150 bovine animals aged eight months or more per week as an annual average;
(ii)
slaughter less than 500 pigs per week as an annual average;
(iii)
carry out sheep carcass classification.
3. The on-the-spot checks shall verify in particular:
(a)
the category of the beef and sheep carcass;
(b)
the classification, weighing and marking of the carcasses;
(c)
the accuracy of the beef and sheep automated grading methods by using a system of points and limits that determines the ongoing accuracy of the grading method;
(d)
the carcass presentation;
(e)
if appropriate, the daily function test as well as any other technical aspects of grading methods;
(f)
the daily control reports as referred to in Article 12(1)(b) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182.
Reports and revoking of licences and approvals
1. The competent authority shall make and keep reports on the on-the-spot checks provided for in Article 2.
2. In cases where a significant number of incorrect classifications, presentations or identifications or where the application of automated grading technique failing to comply with the rules is ascertained during the on-the-spot checks provided for in Article 2, the licences or approvals granted to qualified classifiers or automated grading technique as provided for in Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1182 may be revoked. In cases of an error on category, conformation or fat cover the body responsible for on-the-spot checks may ask the operator to rectify it on the marking of the carcass and in the documents concerned.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
