Processors urged to press supermarkets over Scots QA scheme

28 April 1998

Processors urged to press supermarkets over Scots QA scheme

SCOTTISH meat processors have been asked to play a key role in helping supermarket shoppers recognise Scotlands farm assurance scheme.

Brian Simpson, chief executive, of the Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association (SQBLA), said the supermarkets own schemes could not have the same independent credibility as the nation scheme.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, Mr Simpson chided farmers for not signing up in the required numbers. He said membership of the SQBLA scheme needed to increase from 6,500 to 12,000.

Mr Simpson said roughly 90% of finished cattle numbers were under the scheme, but said the big challenge was convincing smaller farmers to sign up because the inspection costs were too high for many of them. Inspectors visit farms in the scheme up to five times a year

• The Scotsman 28/04/98 page 28