The measure is aimed at reducing microbiological surface contamination on bovine carcasses and will enter into force on 25 February 2013.
This additional tool would help reduce the contamination by the most important pathogens widely found in foodborne diseases such as Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) and salmonella, it said.
However, it added that lactic acid should not be considered a substitution for good hygienic slaughtering practices and it should be integrated into existing good practices.
The Commission also adopted the import of live US pigs into the EU for breeding and production from the same date leading to the import of a limited number of breeding animals.