MLC denies misleading British mark
10 March 2000
MLC denies misleading British mark
THE Meat and Livestock Commission has emphatically denied claims that it has allowed foreign meat to be described as British under its Quality Standard Mark.
But the MLC admits that foreign meat could apply to use the mark, but only on the condition that its country of origin was clearly marked on the pack.
Shropshire County Council trading standards department had claimed the MLC “British Meat” tag is applied to non-British meat, misleading consumers with a false trade description.
But in a statement the MLC rejected this. “Despite claims to the contrary, meat in packs bearing the British Meat Quality Marks is from British animals reared in Britain.”
MLC food law advisor Michael Fogden added: “Those wishing to use the mark have to apply to us, and all those who have been approved are using British meat.
He added: “Operators using foreign meat could apply to use the Quality Standard Mark, but in that case we would insist the country of origin of the meat is clearly marked on the pack.”
According to Shropshire trading standards there is no requirement that meat labelled under the British Meat Quality Standard should be of British origin.
Earlier correspondence from the MLC to the council had appeared to support this.
It is reported to indicate that the mark was designed as a quality standard designed to avoid any representation to prospective customers that the meat was necessarily British.
Shropshire trading standards said this meant that the description “British Meat” doesnt mean what it says.
Quality Standard marks were introduced to restore consumer confidence during the BSE crisis.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Britain has missed out on a share of euro 6.8 million to help publicise the EU beef labelling.
Alll other member states will receive a share of the sum to inform consumers of the guarantees offered by the EU system for labelling beef and veal products.
A ministry of agriculture spokeswoman said this campaign was being replaced by a compulsory scheme in August.
Consequently, MAFF did not believe participating now would give value for money, and did not apply.
Under terms negotiated by the UK at Fontainebleau in the early 1990s, the British government would have picked up the bill for money allocated by the EU for the campaign.