LOCAL MSP WELCOMES BEEF LABELLING PROPOSALS

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) that it is consulting on proposals to require beef sold in restaurants and other food outlets to have its country of origin labelled.

Mr Stevenson – whose Banff & Buchan Constituency is one of the prime meat-producing areas of the country – commented:

“This is a move in the right direction and I know that it will be welcomed by local farmers who have consistently pressed for clearer labelling of beef so that the consumer can make an informed choice.

“This follows the direct action taken by local farmers during the summer in response to the major supermarkets importing cheap Brazilian beef when they did an excellent job of promoting Scottish beef direct to supermarket customers.

“It is entirely right and proper that customers of restaurants should also know where their beef comes from. Many establishments in the North-east already proudly state on their menus where their beef is from and I have always viewed that as a very strong selling point for those places that do so.

“I strongly believe that such a move will not only boost the Scottish beef sector but will also give a boost to those establishments which have local beef on their menu.”