Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Beef carcase classification is traditionally based on a visual assessment of the carcase by a human classifier and, prior to the introduction of mechanical classification, critics would have regarded such human assessment as subjective, prone to error and lacking consistency.

Mechanical classification was introduced in Ireland more than five years ago and is now well established and accepted as an independent, objective and consistent system for classifying beef carcases. The mechanical classification system is objective because it makes use of certain measurements of the carcase, by the machine, to determine carcase classification as opposed to the subjective visual assessment of the human grader.

Since the introduction of mechanical classification, officials of my Department have carried out regular unannounced inspections of meat plants to monitor the accuracy and performance of the classification machines. This assessment of the classification, for both conformation and fat, is carried out using sub-classes within each main class in order to further refine the classification assessment of the beef carcase. For example, conformation main class O can be divided into sub-classes O+ and O-, with O+ being the best in this main class and O- the worst.

My officials check the machine classification results of at least 80 carcases during control visits. On each occasion, the performance of the machine is compared to the performance criteria laid down in the relevant EU regulations. Overall, the classification machines continue to operate well within the performance thresholds provided for in the relevant EU regulations.

Since the introduction of machine classification, all data concerning machine checks by my officials are stored electronically, which facilitates accurate and comprehensive monitoring of the machine performance.

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