December 11, 2009

Higher levy charges for Scottish red meat

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) announced earlier that it is increasing its levy by about 20%, amid ripples of industry discontent, although it is the first rise since 2001.

The submission to Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, follows weeks of engagement with levy-payers and representatives of the Scottish red meat industry.

QMS chief executive 'Uel Morton believes that the increase would allow QMS to maintain and develop its current levels of activity for the Scottish industry's brands - Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork - and its work to improve the efficiency of the red meat supply chain in Scotland.

Morton says the proposed levy increase will allow QMS's marketing and promotion expenditure to return to over GBP2.5 million (US$4.07 million) and enable industry development spend to be maintained at over GBP1 million (US$1.62 million), at a time when production and processing efficiency is crucial.

He also notes that it will allow QMS to be able to robustly respond to challenges such as the anti-meat lobby and give a sound funding base from which QMS can attract additional funding from government and other bodies.

The decision of the levy increase is expected by the end of this month.