EC identification and health marks

Health mark is the official name for a uniform EU symbol that is stamped on official audited carcasses. The operation number contained therein was referred to by the end of 2005 as a veterinary approval number. Since 1 January 2006 the name of this company number approval number. Since 1 January 2006 alongside the term health mark in the term of the identification mark exists. The identity marking is applied by food business operators on other animal products or their packaging. The term health mark is sometimes incorrectly used for the attached identification mark on the packaging.

In Germany on health and identification marks of the respective regulatory authorities of the federal states according to the requirements stated awarded (approval in accordance with EU hygiene legislation). The label states that the operation, which has recently handled or packaged the product works according to EU-wide hygiene standards and is monitored accordingly. It can be found on the packaging of all foods of animal origin ( dairy products, meat products, fish and shellfish products, egg products ), where it is mandatory throughout the EU by the European Regulation (EC ) No 853 /2004. Attention is drawn to the flag often with " bottled by ", " packed by " or " best before ". Only the manufactured or processed further by retail establishments of animal food (eg butchers, supermarkets, restaurants, commercial kitchens ) and will be delivered directly from there to the final consumer or delivered, are exempt from the labeling requirements and the operations of the authorization requirement. Another exception to the mandatory labeling for fresh eggs, which are characterized by market law.

This marking is not intended primarily for the end user, but the monitoring authorities and trading partners. From the mark is applied only to draw conclusions about the manufacturing operation are possible, but not to the origin of raw materials. They are only possible if a geographical designation was used. So, for example, must " Irish butter " be made ​​in Ireland, even if the final package was made in Germany.

All Member States are obliged to publish lists of the establishments and their registration numbers.

With the General Administrative Regulations Food Hygiene ( AVV LMH ) of 12 September 2007 lays down the authorization number for all the different operating modes and new uniform for Germany. It consists of an abbreviation for the state and a 5-digit number, such as " BW 12345". In the actual labeling of this approval number is the abbreviation of the Member State Ahead ( 1st line) and the respective national language abbreviation for the European Community ( EC) on the back burner (3rd row). These three lines are surrounded by an ellipse. Thus, there is this identification of four parts. These four parts are available for:

Line 1: 1, the Member State (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, EL, FR, FI, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, UK)

Line 2: The second state (BB, BE, BW, BY, HB, HE, HH, MV, NI, NW, RP, SH, SL, SN, ST, TH ) 3 5-digit operation number

Line 3: 4 abbreviation for the European Community (CE, EF, EG, EK, EC, EY, STP )

Until the new regulations in Germany in 2007 were used instead of the abbreviation for the state abbreviation for the type of operation and up to 4 - digit numbers. The abbreviations for the modes were:

ES slaughterhouse for animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, sheep or goat ( " Red Meat " ), ESG slaughterhouse for poultry, ESK slaughterhouse for domestic rabbits, ESD Umpackbetrieb after the meat and poultry meat hygiene law, EV processing plants for meat, EZ cutting plant for red meat ) EZG cutting plant for poultry meat, EZK cutting plant for domestic rabbits, EHK independent production unit for minced meat and meat preparations, EWK wild game processing, EFU Fischumpackbetrieb, EFB fish processing plant, EP egg, a federal country abbreviation in conjunction with a 3-digit operation number stood for a dairy farm.

However, this had the consequence that formerly businesses with several production areas received several registration numbers. Formerly assigned registration numbers do not necessarily have to be changed. Only newly registered businesses must obtain a single authorization number under the new system.

In other Member States of the European Union shall apply to the second and third part of the code other rules.

Companies outside the EU who want to manufacture and export animal foods in the EU must also be approved and listed and their products are also provided with a health mark or identification mark.