According to Commission Decision 2009/11/EC, the use of four methods for grading pig carcasses in Spain were authorised.

However, Spain has stated that due to new technological developments and the development of new versions of two devices authorised there, it is necessary to calibrate those new devices in order to obtain new formulas for their use in Spain.

In a significant group of Spanish slaughterhouses, the average number of pigs slaughtered per week does not exceed 500, and a method for pig carcass classification appropriate to their slaughter capacity is therefore needed.

Spain requested the Commission to authorise three new methods for grading pig carcasses on its territory and has presented a detailed description of the dissection trial, indicating the principles on which those methods are based, the results of its dissection trial and the equations used for assessing the percentage of lean meat in the protocol provided for in Article 23(4) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/2008 of 10 December 2008 laying down detailed rules on the implementation of the Community scales for the classification of beef, pig and sheep carcasses and the reporting of prices.

Examination of that request has revealed that the conditions for authorising those grading methods are fulfilled and the EC has authorised that those grading methods should therefore be authorised in Spain.

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