Slaughterers question meat board absence

THE Scottish meat processing and slaughtering sector has written to Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, pointing out that its part of the red meat chain has currently no representation at board level on Quality Meat Scotland.

In the letter, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) president, Alan Craig, points out his members contribute about 25 per cent of QMS's levy income and yet the QMS board remains "completely lacking" in any relevant representation from the slaughtering and processing sector.

"This lack of representation within the QMS board needs to be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity," said Ian Anderson, executive manager for SAMW.

"While we are not in any way criticising current board members, the fact remains that there is a total lack of any relevant experience of the slaughtering and processing sector within the present board, despite the fact that QMS regularly takes decisions on issues which have a profound effect on our members' businesses."

Anderson said that under normal circumstances SAMW would have left the issue until the next round of board appointments next year. However, a recent resignation from the board has created an easy opportunity to provide the sector with immediate representation

A QMS spokesman responded to the SAMW request by stating: "As a public body, Quality Meat Scotland's board members are appointed by the Scottish Government in an open and transparent process. We would welcome moves from the Scottish Government to ensure the vacancy on the QMS board is filled as soon as is practically possible."