The Beef Labelling (Enforcement) Regulations 1998
These Regulations provide for the enforcement in Great Britain of Title II of Council Regulation (EC) No. 820/97 (establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1141/97 (laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 820/97 as regards the labelling of beef and beef products). A breach of Article 12.1 of the Council Regulation or Articles 2 or 3 of the Commission Regulation is an offence against the Food Safety Act 1990 punishable by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, as is failure to comply with a notice to remove mislabelled beef from sale (regulation 2). Failure to have in place a proper identification system under Article 2 of the Commission Regulation is an offence, as is failure to grant to the independent body employed to verify labelling claims access to premises, and failure to communicate relevant information to the competent authority (regulation 3). The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the competent authority for the purposes of both the Council Regulation and the Commission Regulation.