Food > Meat and Poultry Products > Manual of Procedures > Chapter 10  

ANNEX Q - GRADE MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTED BEEF

Click here to see this Annex in PDF Format

GRADE MARKING REQUIREMENTS
FOR IMPORTED BEEF

The legislative authority is provided by the Canada Agricultural Products Act and by the Livestock & Poultry Carcass Grading Regulations.

MARKING REQUIREMENTS

As a result of a regulatory amendment, it is required that a beef carcass or a portion thereof including a sub-primal cut shall not be imported into Canada unless :

(a) the beef is packed in a container or a bulk container and that container or bulk container is marked with the grade name of the product or in the case of ungraded beef with the words "Ungraded beef"; or

(b) when the beef is not packed in a container, the beef is either graded and marked as required by the country of origin or is to be treated as ungraded beef.

In all instances, the grade description on the meat inspection certificate mus correspond with the markings on the containers, the beef sides or quarters.

The Canadian grade equivalent may also be shown on the label when such a grade equivalency has been agreed upon. To date, no grade equivalencies have been established.

Graded beef within a carton or bulk container may be a single or multiple grade. When beef cuts of different grades are mixed together in a container or bulk container, the specific grade codes or names for the product must be marked on the container (e.g. USDA Select/USDA Choice). The labelling of cartons with statements such as "or higher" in conjunction with the USDA grade name for beef shall be considered acceptable and comparable to the Canadian beef grade declaration.

For more details on this policy see section 7.12(3).

LIST OF COUNTRIES EXPORTING
FRESH BEEF TO CANADA

Argentina
Australia
New Zealand
United States
Uruguay

IMPLEMENTATION DATE

The effective date based on date of certification for implementation is May 5, 1992, except for New Zealand to which the date is July 5, 1992. After these dates, any shipment found to be in non-compliance shall be refused entry.

GRADING SYSTEM

Canada is presently recognizing the grading system of the following countries only: Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Uruguay.

ARGENTINA

Official grade names (Symbols)

AUSTRALIA

Official grade names (symbols)

V = veal
B = bull
BA = bull and beef
BYG = young bull
A = beef
YS = yearling steer
Y = yearling beef
YE = yearling entire
YGE = young entire
YGS = young steer
YG = young beef
YPS = young prime steer
YP = young prime beef
PRS = prime steer
PR = prime beef
SS = steer
S = ox
C = cow

NEW ZEALAND

Official grade names (symbols)

PS = steer and heifer
PR = cow
C = steer, heifer and cow
B = bull
XY = young lean beef
SYB = selected young beef

Example of a label applied to the main panel of a bulk container

grade designation

grade designation

N.B. The official grade symbols are usually followed by the product (cut) code. The grade symbol and the product code must be separated by a dash (as indicated on the examples), space, star or a slash, to avoid confusion.

UNITED STATES

Official grade names

U.S.D.A. Prime
U.S.D.A. Choice
U.S.D.A. Select
U.S.D.A. Standard
U.S.D.A. Commercial
U.S.D.A. Utility
U.S.D.A. Cutter
U.S.D.A. Canner

Example of a label applied to the main panel of a bulk container

grade designation

ungraded product

URUGUAY

Official grade names and symbols