Evolving our Standards to Strengthen Trust

by Niall Jeffrey, Cattle and Sheep Farmer and Chair of the Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Standards Setting Committee

As a farmer, I know first-hand the pressures and complexities we face in today’s red meat industry—balancing food production, sustainability, profitability, and animal welfare while under increasing scrutiny from both supply chains and the public.

That’s why, as Chair of the QMS Cattle & Sheep Standards Setting Body, I’m proud of the work that’s gone into the latest update of the QMS Cattle & Sheep Assurance Scheme Standards. This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. These standards are what protect the integrity and reputation of the renowned Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb brands—both here at home and in international markets.

Coinciding with the year that sees our schemes celebrate 35 years of existence, we’ve taken a fresh approach to the standards review process, and I believe it’s resulted in the most practical and member-focused update we’ve had in decades.

We started by asking farmers themselves for input through an open survey that shaped the early drafts of the new standards. The message came through clearly: farmers want assurance standards that are meaningful, manageable, and relevant to modern farming, that seeks to reduce the audit burden on them. We've responded by reducing the total number of standards by 15%, mostly through removing duplication and streamlining wording. But let me be clear—none of this comes at the expense of rigour. The core principles around traceability, welfare, responsible medicine use, and environmental responsibility remain as strong as ever.

The Standard Setting Body is comprised of farmers, crofters, vets, processors, and wider supply chain partners who work closely together on the review process. The result is a set of standards that continues to provide value to the members while meeting the high expectations of retailers and consumers.

Another important change is in health planning. There’s now a clearer distinction between the farmer’s role and the vet’s role, which should make on-farm planning more targeted and less of a paperwork exercise. And we’ve cleared up some longstanding confusion around tagging and traceability, which we know has been a sticking point for many.

For me, these updates are about ensuring that we, as an industry, continue to take ownership of our standards—standards that reflect Scottish farming values, our dedication to our livestock, and our commitment to quality. If we don’t lead on this, someone else will.

Change is never easy. But I believe the process involved in this latest review—where all members were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes—shows how the assurance scheme can evolve with producers, not just at them. Proudly some of the highest standards in the world, we’ll keep listening and working to ensure the scheme stays robust, respected, and workable.

Members should have received a copy of the new standards in early October, and I encourage everyone to take time to look through them—especially the short document that summarises the changes and rationale behind them.

We all have a stake in protecting the trust consumers place in our product. These standards are a big part of how we do that—and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.

Listen to Niall Jeffrey on the latest episode of of Fed by Farmers podcast to find out more - https://youtu.be/bPj3eEmONjM?si=ysImyBBPQxZHZOso