21 Aug 2018
Scots standards should not be 'Brexit bargaining chip'
Meat processors body the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has made it clear the high standards it operates to are not to be used as bargaining chips in any post-Brexit trade deal.
The organisation has insisted red meat production, processing and retailing must be fully protected against any health, welfare and environmental compromises.
SAMW president Andy McGowan said: "While we welcome assurances being given by the UK Government that all future food imports will comply with the UK’s high safety standards as they seek to establish new global trading relationships, any similar assurances in relation to animal welfare, health or environmental protection are conspicuously absent.
“Throughout the past 30 years, and more, our industry has embraced high standards of quality assurance at every point in the supply chain, establishing procedures and practices which are now firmly embedded in our industry.
He also pointed out no artificial growth hormones were used in the UK, while the use of antibiotics for anything other than essential health treatment under veterinary supervision had been banned for many years.
He called for these issues to be ‘fully addressed and nailed’ down immediately.
Read More
The alternative was a sector put at economic risk while consumers were left with an ‘import-driven supply chain which was neither controlled nor controllable by the UK Government’.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) took a similar stance, highlighting Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb’s coveted European protected geographical indication status which has been in place since 1996.
Meanwhile, the Specially Selected Pork label ensures high welfare standards with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspecting each farm annually.
QMS chairwoman Kate Rowell said: “Scotland pioneered the way for whole-of-life and whole-of-supply chain quality assurance, meaning the farm, haulier, auction mart, feed merchant and processor are all quality assured to high-quality production methods.”
According to a recent survey by Unison/Savanta ComRes, four-fifths (81 per cent) of the British public have concerns about meat quality standards being relaxed post-Brexit.
Most Read
Most Recent
Keltec adds steerable front mower to range
5
Lockdown brings boost for milkmen
33
567
32
Faster route to resilient wheat varieties
13
239
AHDB chief executive to step down
444
40
48
Temporary MRL for CIPC given the go ahead
32
STIRLING BULL SALES: Salers top at 5,500gns
57
105
Farmers Guardian and FarmersGuardian.com are trademarks of Farmers Guardian Ltd, a subsidiary of AgriBriefing Ltd.
All material published on FGInsight.com and FarmersGuardian.com is copyrighted © 2020 by AgriBriefing Limited. All rights reserved.
