Calls for a stricter definition of Scotch beef have been attacked by slaughterers who claim any tightening up of the existing rules would lead to severe disruption of the meat market and plant closures. Their angry response came after Scottish rural affairs minister Ross Finnie called on the industry to exclude meat from cattle born outside Scotland from beef entitled to the designation "Scotch". "I know many of you have for some time been of the view that we should be moving to a born, bred and slaughtered in Scotland' definition. I have made no secret of the fact that I support this view," Finnie told an industry conference in Dunfermline. The MSP said it was important to protect the integrity of the brand being built by Quality Meat Scotland, the promotional body soon to take over the MLC's Scottish role. That point was brought into sharp focus last week when the Advertising Standards Authority rapped QMS over the knuckles for implying in ads that Scotch beef was born and raised in Scotland. Nevertheless, Finnie's calls for QMS to take "quick and decisive action" and change its rules on the definition of Specially Selected Scotch left processors unimpressed. Neil Stoddart, president of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, warned that "serious and irreparable damage" would be done to both the meat and the livestock sectors if the proposal went through without substantial accompanying measures. His main gripe is that the authorities were warned long ago that a tighter labelling definition could be accepted if funds were provided to cover the cost of taking out the inevitable excess capacity. The reaction from ANM Group's influential chief executive Brian Pack was equally hostile. He said: "If they do this they're going to reduce size of the whole Scottish beef industry ­ farming, feed manufacturing, haulage, processing, everything." The processors point out that Scotland has never been self-sufficient within its own borders, which is why beef producers have relied on bringing in cattle for finishing. They also claim the Scottish industry's infrastructure, from the farm to abattoir, cutting and packing plant, will suffer immediate over-capacity if it cannot label as Scotch' the beef from animals not born within its borders. Without this labelling right, which yields a premium of up to 20p per kg deadweight over the price of English beef, financial catastrophe would ensue. There is another concern: if finishers have to switch to Continental cross-bred by- products of the Scottish dairy industry, they say there would be a reduction in the quality of beef supplied to the public. In the meantime, QMS said it would be examining the legal, technical and structural issues of any moves to change the definition. In particular, it is working with the Scottish Executive and the meat industry to gather information on cattle movements. Vice-chairman Donald Biggar said: "It is vital we fully understand all of the implications for the industry in moving to a position where all animals sold as Scotch beef have been born, raised and slaughtered in Scotland." {{MEAT }}

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