Quality Meat Scotland
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1990 |
Type | Executive non-departmental public body |
Jurisdiction | Scotland |
Headquarters | Rural Centre, West Mains, Ingliston, Newbridge |
Employees | 28 (Q1 2022)[1] |
Agency executives | |
Website | www |
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government.[1] It promotes the red meat sector and markets the Protected Geographical Indication Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb brands.
It was set up in 1990 (originally as the Scottish Quality Beef & Lamb Association) to provide assurance to industry and consumers that animals produced for the food chain met certain standards.[3] It was established on a statutory basis in 2008, replacing the Meat and Livestock Commission.[4]
Controversies
In 2021, covert footage was shot at a high welfare farm owned by Philip Sleigh, the chairman of the pig standard-setting committee at Quality Meat Scotland. Footage showed farmers hammering pigs to death, weak piglets being slammed into concrete floors and pigs with severe untreated prolapses. Animal Equality UK said "Rubbing shoulders with government officials and accreditation reps, Philip Sleigh was entrusted with a position of power, yet his own farm breached the very standards he helped set".[5]
References
- ^ a b "National public bodies directory - Executive non-departmental public bodies". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Our Board". Quality Meat Scotland. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Assurance Scheme - Cattle and Sheep". SFQC (Scottish Food Quality Certification Ltd). Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, section 91; Quality Meat Scotland Order 2008.
- ^ "Pigs hammered to death at 'high-welfare' farm". The Independent. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
External links
- Agriculture in Scotland
- Farm assurance
- Scottish cuisine
- Executive non-departmental public bodies of the Scottish Government
- Organisations based in Edinburgh
- 1999 establishments in Scotland
- Government agencies established in 1999
- Meat industry organizations
- Brand name meats
- Meat processing in the United Kingdom
- Animals in Scotland
- Scotland government stubs
- Meat stubs
- Livestock stubs