Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 of 21 April 1997 allows operators, subject to approval from my department, to label beef voluntarily with information concerning its place of production.This regulation will be superseded by a Compulsory Beef Labelling Regulation, currently under negotiation, which will also provide for the continuation of the Voluntary Scheme. The new regulation will also permit Protected Geographic Indications and Protected Designation of Origins such as Scotch and Orkney Beef to continue.