For more information about the complexity and diversity of controls at each stage of the supply chain, visit www.qmscotland.co.uk
On-farm assurance is independently audited to EN45011 standards
Traceability starts right after birth when calves are tagged with a unique ID number, referencing where the animal is being kept. This number is sent to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) and a passport for each animal created that includes data such as the sire, breed and farm assurance status and a barcode is created so, like ours, the passport can be read electronically. This passport will stay with its animal throughout its life and will play a fundamental role in its future – without this passport, the animal cannot be moved from the farm, sold, slaughtered or butchered.
Animals born in Britain, but outside of Scotland, are of course still able to be reared on a Scotch farm and slaughtered in a Scottish abattoir but, as the new legislation comes into practice, the meat from these animals will need to be clearly labelled to differentiate from the true Scotch products, for example ‘British’.
Quality Meat Scotland farm assurance scheme
Throughout the Scotch supply chain, comprehensive assurances ensure that the best quality product is available to the consumer, and that begins at the farm.
Scotland’s red meat industry was one of the first to answer the market needs for offering assured products. For Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, Quality Meat Scotland has created specific farm assurance standards of its own which are developed by the industry for the industry.
The Standards Setting Committee for the Cattle and Sheep Scheme consists of seven farmers on whose knowledgeable and experienced shoulders rests the establishment and upholding of required assurance measures. Industry organisations are actively invited to suggest changes and improvements and, if appropriate, they are presented to the Quality Meat Scotland Board. Assurance does not stop at the farm – the entire supply chain is closely assessed and managed.
Scotland’s comprehensive assurances of quality and provenance begin at the farm
Where amendments are made it is largely due to one of four circumstances:
- Changes in legislation – generally consumer driven but constantly under evolution
- Industry best practice improvements
- Changing consumer needs – with food interest and knowledge ever developing, the consumer will continue to be the main driving force
- Changes that are of benefit to the industry and consumer confidence
Commercially it is very much in the farm’s best interests to apply and achieve assured status. An assessor will inspect all businesses on an annual basis to ensure best practice continues and a number of spot inspections are also carried out each year.
It is in Scottish livestock farmers’ best interests to achieve Quality Meat Scotland Assured status
How assurance standards are set for all stages of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb production
Scotch assurance: comprehensive and progressive
Stress-free transport and handling shows respect for the animal and delivers finer meat
Animal welfare from calving to slaughter, is a priority to all involved in the industry
Through all stages of the animal’s lifetime, significant processes and practices are adhered to and monitored to ensure the best quality of life and superior final product to your consumers. This chart shows how rigorous and fundamental the Scottish scheme is.
Scotch provenance
Consumers are increasingly concerned about the source of the food they are served: chefs can have complete confidence in the provenance of Beef and Lamb labelled ‘Scotch’
The power of the consumer can be seen in the treatment of ‘Scotch Status’. Until recently it had been possible to call an animal ‘Scotch’ so long as it was only finished and slaughtered in Scotland. From Summer 2004, beef and lamb can only be labelled Scotch after it has fulfilled a number of regulations, all of which are thoroughly monitored and enforced by Quality Meat Scotland. The animals must be born and reared for the entirety of their lives on a farm that is part of an Assurance Scheme recognised by Quality Meat Scotland. In addition they must be slaughtered and dressed in Quality Meat Scotland approved abattoirs. Only meat which complies with all the above can be labelled and sold as Scotch, providing chefs with an absolute reassurance of its provenance.