22.6.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 161/1 | (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) of 11 June 2007 No 700/2007 on the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4) Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37(2) thereof, (5) Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: (1) The second subparagraph of Article 2, in conjunction with point (b) of the first subparagraph of that Article, of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal () provides that the Council is to adopt general rules concerning measures to promote better organi- sation of production, processing and marketing. (2)  The systems of production of bovine animals aged 12 ) months or less and their characteristics at the time of slaughter often differ from one Member State to another. On the main consumer markets in the Community, meat from these different production systems is generally marketed under one single sales description. (3)  Experience shows that this practice could disturb trade and encourage unfair competition. Consequently, it has a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the internal market. This practice could also cause confusion for consumers and is likely to mislead them. To improve the functioning of the internal market, the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less should be organised in such a way as to make it as transparent as possible. This will also enable such production to be better organised. For that purpose, the sales descriptions to be used in each language of the Member States for the marketing of the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less should be specified. This will also improve information for consumers. In certain cases, the meat of bovine animals aged 12 months or less enjoys protection under Council Regu- lation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (3). In those cases it is marketed under the protected indication or designation and, as a result, can be precisely identified by operators and consumers. Accordingly, this Regu- lation should not affect those protected indications and designations. Various studies have shown that the organoleptic char- acteristics of meat, such as tenderness, flavour and colour, change with the age of the animals from which it is obtained and the feed used. According to a public consultation organised by the Commission in 2005, for a majority of consumers the age of the animals and what they have been fed on are important criteria in determining the characteristics of their meat. On the other hand, the weight of the animals on slaughter appears to be less important. () OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21. Regulation as last amended by Regu- () OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Regulation as amended by Regulation lation (EC) No 1913/2005 (O] L 307, 25.11.2005, p. 2). (EC) No 1791/2006 (O] L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).