Quality assurance does not add up to welfare

17 September 1998

‘Quality assurance does not add up to welfare’

FARM quality assurance schemes do not necessarily guarantee adequate animal welfare standards, experts warned at the Farm Animal Welfare conference in Edinburgh

Ruth Layton, a veterinary surgeon who is also a farmer, said the term “farm fresh” was meaningless unless it was supported by strict animal welfare measures. She said the phrase “free range” too had nothing to do with animal welfare

Ms Layton said farm assurance schemes must be backed up by clear labelling if they were to gain consumer support

Sandra Edwards of the Scottish Agricultural College argued animal welfare legislation was taking second place to the strictures imposed by quality assurance schemes and the demands of multiple shop buyers

Brian Simpson of the Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association said proof of animal welfare was still confined to a niche market and there was little evidence consumers in general regarded it as a selling point.

• The Herald 17/09/98 page 27