Member States shall determine the system of sanctions that shall be applicable in case of breaches of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its implementation. The sanctions provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Without prejudice to the sanctions referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, where beef has been labelled:

• without complying with the compulsory labelling system, or

• in the case of application of the voluntary system, without complying with the specification, or where there is no approved specification,

Member States shall require the removal of the beef from the market until it is re-labelled in conformity with this Regulation.

However, if the meat concerned conforms with all existing veterinary and hygiene rules, Member States may, in addition to the sanctions referred to in paragraph 1, authorise that such beef be sent directly for processing into products, other than those indicated in the first indent of Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

Until 1 January 2001, the removal of beef meat from the market shall only take place when the label contains information which could mislead the consumer to a material degree or does not conform with the approved specification.