Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators. Food business operators are required to comply with the requirements set out in Annex II thereto.

Experience gained since the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 has exposed certain difficulties as regards the storage of food of animal origin. If the date of initial freezing of such food was indicated, food business operators would be better able to judge the suitability of the food for human consumption.

Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs2 concerns the labelling of foodstuffs to be delivered as such to the final consumer and certain aspects relating to the presentation and advertising thereof. However, that Directive does not apply to prior stages of food production.

In addition, the enforcement of compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 by the competent authorities has revealed that more detailed requirements regarding the production and freezing of food of animal origin in the stages of production prior to its delivery as such to the final consumer are necessary.

Accordingly, Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should be amended in order to include requirements applicable to frozen food of animal origin.

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,