Retailers must state beef source

Published on Tuesday 15 August 2006 01:54

SUPERMARKETS and other large retailers in England and Wales, with Scotland set to fall in line, face the prospect of prosecution by Trading Standards and Environmental Health Departments if they fail clearly to differentiate beef by country of origin.

According to Robert Forster, the chief executive of the NBA, the problem centres on cabinets of beef containing products from a range of countries, with consumers making the assumption that it has all been produced in the UK.

He added: "LACORS specialists have agreed that retail beef should not be arranged in a way that confuses consumers and that retailers who stock beef from different countries must make sure that there is a clear and visible separation."

However, the interpretation does not immediately apply to Scotland, and it will be up to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to decide if it will follow the moves south of the Border. That now looks like little more than a formality.

Forster said: "We intend to put pressure on COSLA on this and would expect other organisations in Scotland to follow our lead. Additionally we have agreed with LACORS that greater care must be taken to ensure that generic notices and other promotional material such as 'Bargains from Brazil' or 'Quality from Ireland' do not give the misleading impression that they refer to beef also being displayed that has been produced in the UK."

Louise Welsh, the head of communications with Quality Meat Scotland, said: "Agreement with regulatory organisations on a clear separation from Scotch and imported product is a most welcome boost to give."

The basis for the NBA complaint is an EU regulation which clearly stipulates that there must be a physical separation that allows consumers to select on the basis of origin, as well as quality, price or weight. This does not happen if beef packs are lumped together in a mixed heap.