QMS welcomes assurance support in SRDP

Quality Meat Scotland has welcomed the announcement that its assurance schemes fees are to be eligible for support under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Farmers in the QMS Cattle and Sheep and the QMS Pigs schemes will be able to claim support to cover 50 percent of the membership fees up to a maximum of £150 per scheme per year.

Andy McGowan, Head of Industry Development at QMS, said: “This is good news for the industry as it offers practical assistance which will reach a great number of farmers, and should ensure their continued support for Scotland’s red meat assurance schemes.

“The schemes exist as a market requirement and there has been strong demand from producers to include them in the rural development programme.

“It’s good to see government support going to ensure Scotland’s farmers find their market and our country’s reputation for traceability and welfare standards remain second to none.”

Quality Meat Scotland’s livestock assurance schemes cover more than 94% of beef, 87% of Lamb and 97% of pork produced in Scotland.

The original government announcement can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/04/09115829