31.12. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 382/3 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 14 December 1988 laying down the requirements for the production of, and trade in, minced meat, meat in pieces of less than 100 grams and meat. preparations-and amending Directives 64/433/EEC, 71/118/EEC and 727/462/EEC. (88/657/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, - Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European - Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas provisions relating to the preparation, packaging, storage and transport of minced meat, meat in pieces of less than 100 grams and meat preparations should be laid down; -whereas the health requirement which such meat must fulfil should also be laid down; Whereas Directive 64/433/EEC (4), as last amended by Directive 88/288/EEC (%), and Directive 71/118/EEC (¢), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3805/87 (7),: harmonized the health rules relating to intra-Community trade in fresh meat and trade in fresh poultrymeat; - (*) OJ No C 18, 23. 1. 1988, p. 8. (2) OJ No C 290, 14. 11. 1988, p. 49. (?) O] No C 134, 24. 5. 1988; p. 8. (*) O No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2012/64. (%) O] No L 124, 18. 5. 1988, p. 28. () O] No L 55, 8. 3. 1971, p. 23. (") O] No L 357, 19. 12. 1987, p. 1. Whereas Directive 77/99/EEC (®), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3805/87, harmonized the health rules relating to intra-Community trade in meat products; Whereas the directives in force must be taken as a basis for laying down the rules relating to meat intended for use as a raw material and to the approval of establishments; whereas, moreover, certain provisions of Directive 64/433/EEC on intra-Community trade may be applied to trade in minced meat, meat in pieces of less than 100 grams and meat preparations;’ Whereas, so long as intra-Community trade is hindered by differences. between the health requirements of Member States concerning minced meat, meat in pieces of less than - 100 grams and meat preparations, the harmonious functioning of the common market and in particular of the relevant common organization of markets will not have the desired effect; Whereas the particularly sensitive nature of these products has led to the adoption by Member States of national rules governing the composition thereof and of production standards for them; whereas the existence of these divergent national rules applicable to production as a whole would lead to border controls being maintained; Whereas it is therefore necessary, in order to eliminate these disparities, to approximate the provisions of Member States governing production of these products; Whereas, in.the context of the aims of bringing about an internal market, provision should be made forthwith for the principle of extending the harmonized rules to Community production as a whole; whereas such extension must, however, be dependent-upon the rules to be laid down for meat by virtue of Article 5 of Council Directive 88/409/EEC (*) O) No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 85.