From 21 to 24 November 2022, the first training for beef carcass classification was held in Serbia within the EU-funded Twinning Project “Support the establishment of a carcass classification system in line with the EU Common Agricultural Policy”. The Ministry of Finance of Serbia, through the Department for Contracting and Financing of EU Funded Programmes as contracting body, is responsible for financing, contracting, execution of payments and supervision of the project implementation.
In this edition, the course was aimed at public administration staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and staff of the Animal Husbandry Department of the Novi Sad Faculty of Agriculture. In addition, one person from the slaughterhouse where the course was held also received full training.
For this, two experts from Latvia with extensive experience in the matter, were involved. Both have been members during many years of the Inspection Committee of the European Union in classification of carcasses.
The course had two parts. The first one, a theoretical part with the training about the history, the role and benefits of the SEUROP carcass classification system, the requirements of beef carcass presentation, the EU standard and the requirements of identification and marking of beef carcasses in the slaughterhouses.
During the practical part, in the slaughterhouse, the attendees could learn how the beef carcasses have to be dressed, cut and prepared to fulfil the standards. Moreover they could practice the carcass classification in 40 carcasses and discuss with the experts their doubts and comments.
Throughout 2023, other courses will be held in relation to the classification of pig and bovine carcasses, aimed at both public administration staff and other stakeholders in the meat sector.