Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023 - Call for views

Overview

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is looking at the Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023 and wants to hear your views.

What is the Quality Meat Scotland (Amendment) Order 2023?

The purpose of the instrument is to increase the maximum levy rates in the Quality Meat Scotland Order 2008, which will enable Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to adjust the levies for the slaughter or export of cattle, sheep, and pigs.

QMS performs a number of functions for the benefit of the red meat sector in Scotland, including the marketing of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork, with the levy money forming a crucial part of their income.

The instrument itself does not raise the levy rates currently charged by QMS but would increase the maximum levy rate which may be charged by QMS in the future. The levy rates themselves are set annually by QMS and are subject to Ministerial approval. QMS can increase charges if appropriate in a financial year, but any increase must be within the ceiling of the maximum rates.

Maximum rates that can be charged on animals presented for slaughter in Scotland are currently set out in the Quality Meat Scotland Order 2008.

The levy comprises two elements:

• a producer levy paid by the owner of the animal when it is presented to the market for slaughter; and
• a processor levy which is paid by the owner of the animal at the time it is slaughtered.

The levy is charged for all three main red meat species - cattle (plus calves), sheep and pigs. The rate of levy collected for sheep is currently at the maximum ceiling allowed in the 2008 Order but, according to the policy note, the Scottish Government is seeking to “future proof” the QMS Order for an approximately 10-year period. This will give QMS the ability to increase levy rates following any consultation it carries out with the industry and upon approval from the Cabinet Secretary.

More information on the instrument is available at legislation.gov.uk

What would the Committee like to know?

What are your views about the proposed increase in the maximum QMS levy rates for sheep, cattle and pigs?

How to submit your views

Before making a submission, please read our Privacy Notice about submitting your views to a committee. This tells you about how we process personal data.

Please note that, in most cases, your submission will be published on the Scottish Parliament's website and may be quoted in the Committee's report or in committee meetings (which are public and broadcast).

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 17 November 2023