Meat export firms seek buffers against fallout from EU vote

SCOTLAND’S meat wholesalers have warned that whatever decision is reached on the UK’s future relationship with the European Union it must not be allowed to damage the export links for Scotch beef and lamb, which are currently worth about £75 million to the Scottish meat and livestock industry.

Commenting ahead of a visit to this week’s Royal Highland Show by EU farm commissioner Phil Hogan, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) highlighted the hard work done by its member companies to develop exports across Europe in recent years.

The SAMW added that close political attention needed to be paid now to ensuring such efforts weren’t wasted in the years ahead.

“As a membership organisation, we are obviously neutral concerning the prom- ised referendum on the UK’s membership, or not, of the EU,” said SAMW president, Alan McNaughton.

“At t he same t i me , however, we have very strong views on how whichever route is chosen for the UK in the future may affect the red meat industry in Scotland.

“In 2014, for example, an estimated 98 per cent of all Scottish beef and lamb exports went to Europe, at a gross value of about £75m. That is equivalent to about nine per cent of the sector’s turnover,” he noted.

“This trade is particularly important for sheep meat, accounting for more than a quarter of ex-abattoir production. The trade is less significant for beef, but is nonetheless important in terms of market diversification.”

SAMW member companies account for almost 100 per cent of the Scottish red meat processing industry, commanding a combined annual turnover in excess of £870m and directly employing more than 2,700 people.

“Many of our member companies have been working hard and investing heavily in recent years to further develop exports to the EU. This effort must not be wasted,” Mr McNaughton added.

“The EU is also well advanced in negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the US, a process which comes on top of the current clearing of practical standards for UK beef exports to start flowing back into the US. Here again it is vital that whatever future route the UK takes in relation to the EU, our members would not want to see export opportunities being lost.

“We very much hope that Commissioner Hogan’s visit to Scotland this week will enable these issues to be addressed in the course of his time both at the Highland and during additional meetings and farm visits.” For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday’s issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit thescottishfarmer.co.uk.