The EU does not have EU marketing regulations for pigmeat and sheepmeat. For poultrymeat, the EU marketing regulations that apply are for unprocessed product, for which the following statutory labelling information is required:
(a) use-by date
(b) class (poultrymeat must be graded as Class A or Class B).
(c) in the case of fresh poultrymeat, the total price and the price per weight unit at the retail stage
(d) condition (i.e. fresh, frozen or quick-frozen)
(e) recommended storage temperature.
(f) registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant
(g) in the case of poultrymeat imported from third countries, an indication of the country of origin.
Apart from the requirement applicable to unprocessed poultrymeat from third countries, EU marketing standards do not oblige country of origin labelling for poultrymeat, pigmeat and sheepmeat. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department sought the introduction of national legislation for such labelling but this was not approved by the EU Commission. The issue is now being pursued in the context of proposed EU legislation on food information. The Department of Health and Children is the lead department for that proposal.