Quality Meat Scotland

Established in 1990, the QMS Cattle & Sheep Assurance Scheme is the longest running scheme of its kind in the world.

To be eligible for the Scottish Red Meat Industry’s premium brands and carry the Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI logos, cattle and sheep must have been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland and spent their entire life on QMS Scotch Assured holdings.

To carry the Scottish Red Meat Industry’s Specially Selected Pork brand containing the Saltire, pigs must have spent their entire lives on farms, and then been slaughtered at premises, that are members of QMS assurance schemes. Animal welfare and wellbeing are of paramount importance in ensuring the highest product quality. Whole chain assurance ensures that animals have the best possible quality of life on farm, resulting in the highest quality product reaching the consumer’s plate.

Only haulage operators who are approved members of QMS’s Haulage Assurance Scheme can transport cattle, sheep and pigs which are destined for the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands. Animal welfare and wellbeing are of paramount importance in ensuring the highest product quality. The Haulage Assurance Scheme is an essential element in the ‘whole chain’ consumer assurance programme.

Drivers are specially trained to handle and transport livestock and must hold a livestock certificate of competence.

The Auction Market & Collection Centre Assurance Scheme is an essential element in the Quality Meat Scotland ‘whole chain’ consumer assurance programme.

Auction markets and collection centres play a key role in minimising the stress involved to the livestock which are traded through their system. In conjunction with the other QMS whole chain assurance schemes, specific codes of practice for handling and selling of livestock have been developed.

The Feeds Assurance Scheme is an essential element in the Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) ‘whole chain’ consumer assurance programme.

Only approved members of the Feeds Assurance Scheme can be used by members of the Cattle & Sheep and Pigs Assurance schemes to provide feed for cattle, sheep and pigs which are destined for the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands.

The Processor Assurance Scheme is an essential element in the QMS ‘whole chain’ consumer assurance programme. On site animal welfare officers ensure animals are handled correctly, with due care and concern for their welfare at all times. Only specially trained and competent personnel are authorised to handle livestock, which ensures humane animal treatment, minimises stress to the animal and optimises meat quality for which the brands are renowned.