Livestock Farmers Invited to QMS Assurance Workshops

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is hosting a series of free quality assurance workshops in November for livestock farmers across Scotland.

The evening meetings will be held at the Mercure Hotel in Perth on Thursday 9 November, Dingwall Auction Market, on Thursday 16 November and Moffat House Hotel, on Wednesday 22 November.

The meetings, which start at 7pm, are free to attend and open to all members of the QMS livestock quality assurance schemes for cattle, sheep and pigs.

The main focus of the evenings will be an update on the revised rodent control standards but the events will also give members an opportunity to view the recently-launched QMS Member Portal and ask any questions they may have about the assurance schemes.

The most commonly used method to control rat and mice on farms is the laying of bait containing poisons, known as rodenticides.

There is, however, increasing concern about the use of rodenticides and their residues in the environment and the UK government set up a UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime in 2015. This requires all professional rodenticide users (which includes many farmers) to attend an external training course in order for them to continue buying rodenticides.

QMS has updated the rodent control standards in its quality assurance schemes in line with the requirements of the stewardship scheme to secure agreement that members of the QMS assurance schemes who comply with the revised standards, will be able to purchase professional rodenticides without having to pay for and attend an external course.

Jill Hunter, QMS Assurance Advisor, is keen that members are aware of the update to the rodent control standards in the QMS assurance schemes.

“It is important that members are up to speed with the new requirements and the fact that QMS has secured agreement that our members don’t need to invest in an external training course as long as they comply with the new rodent control requirements in our standards. This is great news for our members and will undoubtedly save them time and money,” said Ms Hunter.

She added: “We have also made some improvements to the QMS Member Portal which will be demonstrated at the meetings later this month and attendees will be very welcome to ask any questions they have about our quality assurance schemes.”

The new portal which launched earlier this year, now gives members the opportunity to update their membership details online as well as the ability to upload information and download their assurance certificates.

The assurance workshops will be led by Ms Hunter who will be joined by a local assessor. They will be available to help members understand and comply with the updated standard requirements and answer any assurance related questions that members may raise.

Spaces at these workshops are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To reserve your space please call 0131 472 4040 or email info@qmscotland.co.uk