First, southern Alberta's large beef packers are physically closer to several large population centres in the western U.S. than they are to large cities in Central Canada.

(22) In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the identification, registration and traceability of bovine animals and beef are applied, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals, special circumstances in which Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification, data to be exchanged between the computerised databases of the Member States, the maximum period for certain reporting obligations, the requirements for means of identification, the information to be included in the passports and in the individual registers to ...[+++] be kept on each holding, the minimum level of official controls, the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals when put out to summer grazing in different mountain areas , rules for labelling certain products which should be equivalent to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, the definitions of minced beef, beef trimmings or cut beef, the specific indications that may be put on labels, the labelling provisions related to the simplification of the indication of origin, the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on packaging of cut meat and the administrative sanctions to be applied by the Member States in cases of non-compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

(22) In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the identification, registration and traceability of bovine animals and beef are applied, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals, special circumstances in which Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification, data to be exchanged between the computerised databases of the Member States, the maximum period for certain reporting obligations, the requirements for means of identification, the information to be included in the passports and in the individual registers to ...[+++] be kept on each holding, the minimum level of official controls, the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals during different types of seasonal transhumance , rules for labelling certain products which should be equivalent to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, the definitions of minced beef, beef trimmings or cut beef, the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on packaging of cut meat and the administrative sanctions to be applied by the Member States in cases of non-compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

"By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 to 4, the Commission [...] may adopt an accelerated or simplified procedure for approval in specific cases, in particular for beef in small retail packages or prime beef cuts in individual packages, labelled in a Member State according to an approved specification and introduced into the territory of another Member State, provided that no information is added to the initial label.

For the purposes of this Regulation, "meat" means all carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, obtained from bovine animals aged twelve months or less, presented fresh, frozen or deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed.

For the purposes of this Regulation, "meat" means all carcases, meat on the bone or boned, and offal, whether or not cut, intended for human consumption, obtained from bovine animals aged twelve months or less, presented fresh, frozen or deep-frozen, whether or not wrapped or packed.