Clearer labelling of British dairy and meat agreed

UK retailers have agreed to voluntarily ensure accurate country of origin labelling of British meat and dairy products.

The new guiding principles announced formalise measures that Britain’s grocers had already agreed.

Following years of intense lobbying by politicians and farming leaders, the guidance has been developed by the British Retail Consortium in association with representatives of food manufacturers, commercial caterers and the hospitality trade. Based on the labelling practices of the best performers in the food chain, it aims to bring others into line.

The move comes in advance of further statutory requirements on the issue currently being considered by the European parliament.

The principles apply to meat, processed meat products and milk, fresh cream, cheeses and butter. They ensure that the term “British” can only be used for meat from animals born and reared in the UK, and dairy products made from milk produced here.

Some British grocers already use this approach to origin labelling, with the overwhelming majority now committed to going one step further and providing country of origin information on the meat in all “composite” products such as soups and ready meals.

Reacting to the announcement, NFU Scotland’s food policy officer, Wendy Fleming said: “Inaccurate and inconsistent labelling of products on supermarket shelves is a regular source of frustration to Scotland’s farmers and we have been calling for improvements for some time. This retailer commitment should mean that if it says British on the label then it’s British in the packet and that is a step in the right direction”.

£100m fines threat

George Lyon, a Lib Dem MEP for Scotland, has warned that the Scottish Government faces the threat of fines of up to £100 million over its interpretation of land eligibility rules after discovering the picture varies drastically across the UK.

After discussions with the EU auditors, the Northern Ireland office, the Irish Farmers Association, and the NFU of England and Wales, it has emerged that Scotland could face the same punitive treatment as Northern Ireland following a recent inspection.

The Irish Republic and England and Wales have excluded land covered by bracken and gorse from IACS claims since 2006. Northern Ireland faces fines of up to €132m after wrongly interpreting land eligibility rules.

Market round-up

Wallets Marts sold 2000 prime lambs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £74/head and 176.7p/kg to average 160.4p. A smaller show of 311 cast sheep saw ewes sell to a top of £69.50 for Mules and £58 for Blackfaces with the overall average levelling at £50.01.

United Auctions sold 187 store bullocks at Stirling yesterday to a top of 178.7p/kg and an average of 152.5p (+6p on the week), while 147 store heifers sold to 170.7p and averaged 151.2p (+6.6p). There were also 114 cast cows that averaged 88.4p.

Source: British Retail Consortium