TWELVE months on from farmer meetings last spring which demanded changes to farm assurance, a ‘constructive dialogue’ has been initiated between farmers and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Livestock farmer and North East NFUS livestock committee member Gary Christie believes positive changes are being made on the cattle and sheep standards through the QMS Standard Setting Body.

Earlier this year North East livestock farmers created a seven page document of assurance scheme changes which they sent to QMS, and received a response to each point. Mr Christie, who has been leading the charge, said: “QMS are clearly listening to what we are saying. A lot of farmers have been unhappy with the direction of farm assurance so we are writing all the issues down and bringing them to QMS for discussion. I would say we have a positive dialogue and we are making every effort to head in the right direction.”

Evidence of QMS being in ‘listening mode’ can be seen with the action following the farmer document asking for more non-QMS board members to sit on the standard setting body which makes the rules for farm assurance. After considering the request, QMS have “reduced the number of board members and increased the number of independent (non-stakeholder) members sitting. The board has final sign off and have discussed that they would like to be transparent about how they would vote at board if it came to it.”

Another change has been over the compulsory £1500 fee for farmers appealing a decision of suspension. Many levy payers felt this was a potential barrier for producers to raise concerns following a suspension. In response, QMS said they do not run the appeals themselves, it is through FIA (the appointed certification body) who run an independent panel. However, the levy body will absorb the fee going forward.

Meanwhile some farmers are keen to take out rules which are part of other legislative requirements such as silage pit storage or sprayer paper work.

However, in their reply QMS said: “We recognise that legislation is something that members should already be adhering to, by having this within the scheme standards it reduces the frequency of governing body audits. If QMS were to remove the legislation from the standards this could have a negative effect and increase the number of audits from other organisations. Assurance schemes are a way to demonstrate that legislation is being complied with so that this can be used as an evidence base for marketing of Scotch Beef & Scotch Lamb.”

When asked if it was time for QMS to leave Government owners as a Non-Department Government Body (NDPB) the levy body replied: “50% of the QMS board by law have to be levy payers (farmers or processor). NDPB status ensures the fair and transparent operation of QMS by audit Scotland.”

The document also highlighted farmers being unhappy with specific points such as rule 6.14 livestock kept outdoors in grazings or corrals must be provided with shelter, natural or man-made. There were also complaints listed in the documents among farmers on ‘some inspectors attitudes and behaviours’ which QMS responded to, saying if evidence was provided they would work with all parties to resolve the issue.

Farmers also sought to reduce the number of spot checks for farms which have a history of compliance to which QMS stated: “We are looking at reviewing the programme in the coming months and would welcome any feedback.”

QMS chief executive, Sarah Millar, said: "Our standards and processes are underpinned by a strategy of continuous improvement and benchmarking and by listening and working with the farming community. As we go into the 2024 full standards review, we are also looking to incorporate a new design and layout of our standards which will be done in consultation with industry and the standards setting bodies.

"Over the last year we have spoken and listened to farmers and crofters from Dumfries to Orkney, this engagement is crucial to our work going forward to enable us to collectively tackle some of the big industry challenges collectively."