Procedures for Assessing the Conformity of Poultrymeat and Eggs with the Classification and Quality Requirements

Issued pursuant to
Section 4, Paragraph four
of the Law on the Supervision
of the Handling of Food

1. The Regulation prescribes the procedures for assessing the conformity of poultrymeat and eggs with the classification and quality requirements.

2. The classification and quality requirements of poultrymeat and eggs according to marketing standards is determined by:

2.1. Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 of 16 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat (hereinafter - Regulation No 543/2008);

2.2. Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 of 23 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs (hereinafter - Regulation No 589/2008).

3. The Regulation shall not apply to small quantities of poultrymeat and eggs that are directly delivered to a final consumer or to a retail establishment which delivers such meat and eggs directly to the final consumer.

4. In relation to the application of the requirements of Regulation No 543/2008 and Regulation No 589/2008, the supervision and control functions of the competent authority shall be performed by the Food and Veterinary Service (hereinafter - the Service).

5. The Service shall:

5.1. take a random sample of poultrymeat from each batch to be inspected and shall assess the conformity of the batch to be inspected with the requirements referred to in Article 8 of Regulation No 543/2008;

5.2. inspect the conformity of the poultrymeat marking with the requirements referred to in Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11 of Regulation No 543/2008;

5.3. in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation No 589/2008, take random samples of eggs and shall assess their conformity with the marketing standards.

6. In accordance with Article 15(2) of Regulation No 543/2008, the Service shall be the institution responsible for monitoring slaughterhouse in respect of checks on water content in chickens.

7. Under the supervision of a veterinarian authorised by the Service, the slaughterhouse shall carry out checks on water content absorbed in fresh chicken carcases or checks on water content in frozen or quick-frozen chickens in accordance with Article 16(1) or (4) of Regulation No 543/2008 and checks on water content absorbed in chicken and turkey carcases in accordance with Article 20(2)(a) of Regulation No 543/2008.

8. The Service shall carry out checks on water content in frozen or quick-frozen chickens in accordance with Article 16(2) of Regulation No 543/2008.

9. Samples for checks on water content in frozen or quick-frozen chickens imported from third countries shall be taken by the Service during customs clearance.

10. In accordance with Article 20(2) of Regulation No 543/2008, the Service shall supervise slaughterhouses and cutting plants in respect of the control of the amount of water absorbed in the poultry carcases intended for the production of fresh, frozen or quick-frozen cuts.

11. The Service shall carry out checks on water content in frozen or quick-frozen poultry cuts in accordance with Article 20(3) of Regulation No 543/2008.

12. The Service shall develop and perform the practical measures referred to in Article 18(2) of Regulation No 543/2008 in respect of the checks on water content in chickens.

13. The Service shall exempt an egg producer from the requirement to mark table eggs with a producer code in accordance with Article 8(2) and Article 11(1) of Regulation No 589/2008.

14. The Service shall send information to the European Commission:

14.1. each year by 1 April - in accordance with Article 31 of Regulation No 589/2008;

14.2. within five working days after the establishment of infringements - in accordance with Article 32 of Regulation No 589/2008;

14.3. in accordance with Article 11(4) of Regulation No 543/2008;

14.4. in accordance with the first and second paragraph of Article 17(5) of Regulation No 543/2008.

15. The Ministry of Agriculture shall send information to the European Commission in accordance with Article 11(5) and Article 18(2) of Regulation No 543/2008 and Article 37 of Regulation No 589/2008.

16. The functions of the national reference laboratory shall be performed by the State scientific institute Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment.

Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis

Acting for the Minister for Agriculture -
Minister for Welfare U. Augulis

Translation © 2020 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)