Change, but no extra paperwork from labelling
Change, but no extra paperwork from labelling
The EU beef labelling scheme has the task of assuring
consumers that the information on the beef they buy is
accurate. Retailers must provide traceable evidence for all
claims made for beef they sell. Simon Wragg reports
INTRODUCING complete traceability under the EU beef labelling scheme does not mean more paper-work for the producer, says ADAS head of beef and sheep, Neil Pickard.
But rearing systems may have to change if they do not meet consumer expectations from the description on the label. For example, grass fed beef may, in future, apply only to cattle fed at least 70% grass as part of rations.
Mr Pickard has registered ADAS an independent auditor for the BLS which comes into force on Apr 1.
Under the scheme, retailers labelling beef with information other than joint name will be audited. This will ensure they have made adequate checks to prove beef products match label claims; for example, that British beef is from a British herd. Auditors will also check claims made for breed, age, sex, identification number of animal and method of production.
"The scheme aims to reassure the consumer that beef inside the packaging is exactly what it says on the label," says Mr Pickard.
"Beef, like any meat, can be analysed for things such as presence of hormones. The BLS checks those things on the label that cant be analysed for. For example, you cant tell by looking at a joint of Welsh beef that it was born in Wales. But the BLS will do that."
Some of the audit checks will be straightforward, says Mr Pickard. Where a label flags a product UK beef, it requires a check to ensure the abattoir only sources cattle finished in the UK. At farm level, adequate records are already kept to comply with BLS rules, so checks should be easy enough here too, he says.
"Cattle over 18 months old have passports, so I would argue that when the BLS is introduced all cattle over 21 months will have the necessary traceability without producers having to do any extra paperwork."
The principle will extend to include CIDs (or CCDs in Scotland) as evidence of the origin of cattle .
In Mr Pickards opinion the effect of the legislation will be reduced in nine months time. At that point all finished beef cattle under 30 months old will be traceable with existing paperwork, he adds.
Producers with cattle over 30 months – provided they can enter the food chain in the future – will have to furnish retailers with evidence, such as stock purchase orders, confirming origin and age.
The full effect on producers will depend on how much detail the BLS auditor requires. They must ensure the description on beef labels meet consumer expectations.
According to Mr Pickard, the level of detail has yet to be decided by MAFF. Whatever the decision, it will only apply where retailers wish to highlight an element of production for marketing advantage.
For example, those producers supplying Angus cattle, which is perceived as a quality beef product by consumers and attracts a 20% premium from retailers, may have to provide evidence that it is purebred to get label approval.
Angus beef cattle derived from dairy crossbreds or suckler cattle may be excluded in the approval process. This is because they do not conform to the consumers interpretation of Angus beef as a purpose-bred quality beef animal.
If this is the case, only beef produced with purebred Angus cattle would get approval to use the breed name on the label and continue to attract the premium.
Mr Pickard accepts that many of the checks will depend on the consumers interpretation of label information. Producers may see danger in asking consumers who are relatively ignorant of farming practices for interpretation of label information. But auditors will turn to consumer organisations and MAFF for guidance.
Farm assurance schemes will help with label approval, but again will depend on consumer interpretation. "FABBL and independently audited schemes will be recognised. But the question of whether the consumer sees farm assured being from birth to slaughter remains unanswered.
"This could be a problem for farm assured finishers of cattle who buy from a number of breeders, some of whom wont be farm assured.
"If the retailer does not claim farm assured on the label it wont matter anyway. Where they do, finishers will have to buy from farm assured breeders and pay the extra £5 a calf to attract the premium from the retailer."
Retailers labelling beef with information other than joint name will be audited to verify claims. Left: Neil Pickard says the scheme aims to reassure consumers that beef products match label claims.
BEEF LABELLING SCHEME
• Paperwork should not increase.
• Descriptions must be clear.
• Farm assurance will help.
• 30-month old cattle need data.
• Paperwork should not increase.
• Descriptions must be clear.
• Farm assurance will help.
• 30-month old cattle need data.