Each nation to receive fairer share of red meat levy

Anticipated to be in place by April 1, 2021, the scheme will replace the collaborative ring-fenced fund and return more than £1 million of levy collected in English abattoirs to Wales and Scotland.

It follows the passing of the Agriculture Bill, which has paved the way for levy payments to be made from one country to another to address livestock movements across national borders.

Having direct control over home-generated levies for domestic marketing campaigns, industry development and export activities have been a long-running objective for all three levy boards AHDB, Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

AHDB chief strategy officer, Will Jackson, said: “We are gratified this enactment lays the groundwork for changes to levy distribution, for the benefit of our levy payers in England, Scotland and Wales.

“Parliament has recognised the cross-border nature of our red meat supply chains and the need to reform the levy distribution mechanism to recognise where producers have economic value.”