UECBV counts among its top priorities food safety. Along with its member, UECBV works on setting efficient processes in place, based on sound and science, to ensure the highest food safety standards to the EU meat sector products.

Protecting and raising the health status and condition of animals in the Community, in particular a food-producing animal represents a major challenge for the UECBV. Along with this challenge comes the attention to permitting intra-Community trade and imports of animals and animal products in accordance with the appropriate health standards and international obligations.Food safety is the most important priority for the meat producers.

We can highlight, in particular, the principle of self-controls based on the HACCP system, the compulsory approval of plants, the specific provisions dealing with the infrastructure of plants, in particular with the aim of avoiding cross-contaminations, the temperature requirements, the health mark and identification mark, the food chain information, the provisions on meat inspection, ….
It is completed with implementing text such as the Regulation laying down the microbiological criteria to check.

The meat sector benefited of harmonized rules since the 60s. But thanks to the hygiene package, common rules apply to all food business operators. We can consider, today, that the level of food safety in the EU is very high within the single market.UECBV is very active on the new EU law on food information to consumers file - food labelling concerning:

• Nutrition information on processed foods;
• Origin labelling of fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry;
• Highlighting allergens e.g. peanuts or milk in the list of ingredients;
• Better legibility i.e. minimum size of text;
• Requirements on information on allergens also cover non pre-packed foods including those sold in restaurants and cafés.

The new rules apply since 13 December 2014. The obligation to provide nutrition information will apply from 13 December 2016.

• Questions and Answers on the application of the Regulation (EU) N° 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers

The new law combines 2 Directives into one legislation:

• 2000/13/CE - labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs;
• 90/496/CEE - nutrition labelling for foodstuffs.

Nutrition and health are of great importance to consumers and to the meat industry. UECBV believes that red meat, including beef, pork and lamb, are a valuable part of a healthy balanced diet as they have a high nutrient density. This means that they contain a wide variety of nutrients in a relatively small amount of food. Meat is a major source of protein. It also contributes minerals and trace elements to the diet, particularly iron and zinc. It is an important source of B vitamins, including B12, which is not found naturally in foods of plant origin.

UECBV follows all developments related to nutrition and health policies, regulations, latest science and other matters associated with meat at European level.UECBV is highly concerned by both animal welfare and animal health for their strict connection with food safety.Food-borne disease and zoonoses are generally recognised as important public health problems and important causes of decreased economic productivity. Similarly, transmission of hazards of animal can result in highly significant economic loss.

The regulatory framework for Community action for Animal Health is set out in the EU Animal Health Strategy for 2007-2013 adopted in September 2007. EU animal health policy covers all animals in the EU kept for food, farming, sport, companionship, entertainment and in zoos. It also covers wild animals and animals used in research where there is a risk of them transmitting disease to other animals or to humans.
The EU has adopted a range control measures on specific animal diseases including Bluetongue, Foot-and-mouth disease and Classical swine fever. Eradication and monitoring programmes co-financed by the EU are also in place for diseases that exist in the EU such as Rabies and Brucellosis. Specific legal frameworks apply for some diseases such as TSE/BSE and Avian Influenza.

On 31st March 2016, the so-called "Animal Health Law" has been published on the Official Journal. The new regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health will repeal a huge number of legal acts and will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Offical Journal. The Animal Health Law is part of a package of measures to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards for the whole agri-food chain.The safety of the food chain is indirectly affected by the welfare of animals, particularly those farmed for food production, due to the close links between animal welfare, animal health and food-borne diseases. Stress factors and poor welfare can lead to increased susceptibility to disease among animals. This can pose risks to consumers, for example through common food-borne infections like Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.Coli.

The welfare of food producing animals depends largely on how they are managed by humans. A range of factors can impact on their welfare including housing and bedding, space and crowding, transport conditions, stunning and slaughter methods, castration of males and tail docking.
Harmonised EU rules are in place covering a range of animal species and welfare-affecting issues.

Council Directive 98/58/EC lays down the minimum standards for the protection on farm of all farmed animals, while other EU legislation sets welfare standards for farmed animals during transport (Regulation EC 1/2005) and at the time of stunning and slaughter (Regulation EC 1099/2009).