Article 14

SCHEDULE 3Special identification mark

1.  Restricted meat from animals must be marked with an identification mark which is–

(a)a diagonal cross, superimposed on the health mark or identification mark applied under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin(1) or Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2076/2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004, (EC) No. 854/2004 and (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004 and (EC) No. 854/2004(2), consisting of two straight lines intersecting at the centre of the stamp and enabling the information on the existing mark to remain legible; or

(b)a single oval stamp, 6.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high, upon which the following information is legible–

(i)on the upper part, the letters UK;

(ii)in the centre, the approval number of the establishment;

(iii)on the lower part, the letters EC;

(iv)two straight lines crossing at the centre of the stamp in such a way that the information is not obscured; and

(v)information which identifies the veterinarian who inspected the meat.

2.  If the single oval stamp referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is used–

(a)the letters must be at least 0.8 cm high;

(b)the figures must be at least 1 cm high; and

(c)the application of the mark must be supervised by the official veterinarian.

3.  Restricted meat from poultry must be marked with an identification mark which is–

(a)the national mark provided for in article 4 of Commission Regulation 2076/2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, (EC) No. 854/2004 and (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004 and (EC) No. 854/2004; or

(b)the mark described in the Annex to Commission Decision 2007/118/EC laying down detailed rules in relation to an alternative identification mark pursuant to Council Directive 2002/99/EC(3).

4.  The identification mark may be applied according to the methods in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 13 of section 1(C) of Annex II to Regulation EC No. 853/2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.

(1)

O.J. No. L 226, 25.6.2004, p.22.

(2)

O.J. No. L 338, 22.12.2005, p.83.

(3)

O.J. No. L 51, 20.02.2007, p.19.