Quality assurance push will ensure customers have no beef with meat
TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Scotland initiated the first farm animal health and welfare scheme aimed at reassuring the public of the standards farmers in this country were operating at.
Although the Quality Assurance was not compulsory, virtually every pig producer signed up, as did more than 90 per cent of beef farmers and above 80 per cent of those who keep sheep.
This week, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) announced the results of a major recruitment drive to up the percentages of participants, with more than 160 applications from new members having been received.
Jim Mclaren, chairman of QMS, said the response to the campaign had been very encouraging and he emphasised the importance of quality assurance.
“Whether you are a farmer, haulier, feed company, auction market operator or a processor, it is vital to the future of these businesses and our industry that everyone is united in support of our whole chain of quality assurance,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of the quality assurance standards in maintaining the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb which, he said, was hugely significant when accessing support from the European Commission, such as the €1.2 million (£861,000) QMS confirmed it had won last week.
The result of the membership recruitment drive was welcomed by Ian Anderson, Executive Manager of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW), who said it was excellent news for the whole industry, potentially cutting a serious point of “wastage” concerning Scotland’s livestock production.
“Some SAMW member companies have been writing to farmers who deliver stock for slaughter without the necessary assurance backing, pointing out how much they are losing in income. These are often good quality animals, finished in Scotland but unable to be sold under any of the quality-assured Scotch brands. Members have pointed out that the lack of the necessary assurance is a complete waste of precious resources and it is good that the message appears to be getting through.”
The announcement was also welcomed by NFU Scotland with vice president Rob Livesey, who said: “Increasing membership across our beef and lamb producers strengthens that message and helps generate demand at a time when expanded sales into home and export markets are important if we are to drive up confidence and investment in our flocks and herds.”
A key focus of the campaign has been on Scottish beef cattle breeding farms that remain outside farm assurance. Among the supporters of QMS is Neil Mccorkindale of Scammadale Farm, Oban, where he runs 100 cows to produce suckled calves.
“Quality assurance is vital to the future of my business and the beef industry in Scotland,” he said. “Consumers expect to be able to buy beef with total confidence it has been produced to a high standard and quality assurance is the only way we can offer them that guarantee of production and welfare standards. The horsemeat fraud highlighted the importance of having a Scotch Beef brand underpinned by a robust set of standards.”