Meat traceability

Don’t be a victim

trACinG AGentS WInTer 2016 MEAT TRACEABILITY Businesses that buy or supply meat must adhere to strict traceability and labelling rules if another horsemeat scandal is to be avoided Traceability enables potential risks that can arise in food and feed to be more easily identified, prevents food fraud, and ensures that products are safe to eat do you know where your meat comes from? After the horsegate scandal in 2013 when a lack of traceability was identified as a primary cause of undeclared horse meat being found in supermarket food products it is vital that all businesses that buy or supply meat follow the strict rules for traceability and labelling. Traceability means being able to track any food, feed, food-producing animal or substance that will be used for consumption through all stages of production, processing and distribution. It enables potential risks that can arise in food and feed to be more easily identified, prevents food fraud, and ensures that products are safe to eat. All food has traceability requirements, but there are tighter controls governing meat. Since April 2015, all pre-packed fresh, chilled and frozen unprocessed meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry that is intended for supply to the final consumer or mass caterer has to be labelled with the following information: l Reared in [country] l Slaughtered in [country] l A reference number or batch code (identifying the specific animal or group of animals from which the meat was derived) Food businesses also need to have an identification and registration system that ensures traceability of labelling as well as the identification of the animal throughout the food chain. This ensures that, wherever the meat is sold, its origins can be traced. Prepacked and non-prepacked beef also requires the above information and traceability but there are additional requirements. The above rules specifically apply to unprocessed meat, but all meat products and other food of animal origin such as milk, eggs, honey and fish have traceability requirements over and above that required for non-animal products. If you supply animal products to another business you must ensure that you provide the following information: l An accurate description of the food l The volume or quantity l The name and address of your business l The name and address of whomever you are supplying l A reference, identifying the lot, batch or consignment l The date of dispatch Having a reputable, trustworthy supplier is key, because traders must be confident that all the meat they sell has come from a legitimate source If you are supplying food that you do not own directly or the business you are supplying does not own the food directly (for example, food brokers) then you must also supply the following information: l name and address of the actual owner of the food l name and address of the eventual owner of the food The information must be updated on a daily basis and kept available at least until it can be reasonably assumed that the food has been consumed. All businesses involved in the meat-supply chain should know the importance of traceability. Insist that appropriate labelling and documentation always accompanies the meat you buy, keep this information, and pass it on where necessary. This is not only a legal requirement but helps to ensure you dont buy unfit meat that may have been illegally slaughtered or not intended for the human food chain. no business wants to be an unwitting participant in a new horsegate scandal. keePInG THe food cHAIn STronG And HeAlTHy traders, regardless of what they sell, have a legal responsibility to ensure their products are safe and that the consumer is protected from fraudulent trading. the sale of meat and food is no different. in recent years, however, local authorities have reported a rise in the number of nonapproved establishments involved in slaughtering animals or processing meat products. this is illegal and likely to breach animal health and welfare rules. Stringent government controls are in place to ensure that any meat derived from animals is health-marked and fit for human consumption. General principles for food safety and food law are laid down in european regulation 178/2002. this states that food, feed, food-producing animals, and any other substance intended to be or expected to be incorporated into a food or feed should be traceable through all stages of production, processing and distribution. Food and feed business operators must be able to identify their suppliers. under the Consumer protection from unfair trading regulations 2008, traders must exercise professional diligence; this means demonstrating a standard of care towards the consumer that is commensurate with honest market practice. Having a reputable, trustworthy supplier is key, because traders must be confident that all the meat they sell has come from a legitimate source and that they can trace where it has come from. Food-chain information must be supplied by farmers submitting animals for slaughter, detailing any illness, disease or medication that their animals may have been exposed to, which may affect public or animal health. this document is intended to give food safety assurances from farm to fork. Such controls ensure that the food we eat is safe, that there is traceability, and that any parts not intended for human consumption are disposed of safely and do not cause a disease threat to the uK. Credit: Karen Woolley, development manager, Federation of Small Businesses Images: MK Jones / Shutterstock For more information, click here, or contact your local trading standards service. Credit: Steph Young For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service