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5.3.1.3.2 Participation of farmers in food quality schemes

MEMBERSHIP OF FOOD QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEMES (Tier 2)

Article 20(c)(ii)

Measure Code (132)

Rationale for Intervention

The production of quality products is the cornerstone of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture. Quality is a key element in ensuring a sustainable and competitive agriculture sector focused on producing premium quality products. Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP) has brought the importance of quality production to the forefront and membership of a quality assurance scheme enables farmers to adapt to a decoupled situation more easily.

Objectives

To encourage membership of food quality assurance schemes as a means of developing product quality.

Scope and Actions

Support payments to farmers and crofters who participate in national food quality assurance schemes. Payment will be made annually for membership arising from participation in a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme.

The payment will be available annually to farmers and crofters participating in a quality assurance scheme and it will be a one off payment. An invoice will be required as evidence of membership of an accredited scheme. Inspections must review the paperwork of the accredited scheme. Joining fees and ongoing membership costs will be reimbursed at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum of £150. A farmer can join more than one quality assurance scheme per year e.g. one for cereals and one for pigs.

Definition of Beneficiaries

Land managers.

List of Community and National quality schemes eligible for support

• Quality Meat Scotland Assurance Scheme - Cattle and Sheep
• Quality Meat Scotland Assurance Scheme- Pigs
• Scottish Quality Cereals Assurance Scheme
• National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme
• Assured Chicken Production
• Assured Produce Scheme
• Lion Eggs
• LEAF marque
• Freedom Foods
• Genesis Quality Assurance Scheme
• Scottish Organic Producers Certification Scheme
• Soil Association Assurance Scheme
• Organic food federation
• Organic Farmers and Growers - Organic Assurance Scheme
• British Deer Farmers Association Assurance Scheme
• Scottish Quality Wild Venison Assurance Scheme
• Biodynamic Agricultural Association

The above schemes are all certified at EN45011 level.

Justification of the fixed costs

Quality assurance schemes are voluntary schemes which verify through regular independent inspections that farmers and growers are meeting certain standards of production. Quality assurance schemes already exist across all production sectors in Scotland. These schemes were established due to a market opportunity for farmers to show consumers that their products are high quality and being produced above legal minimum requirements. Quality assurance schemes were also encouraged through the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture.

In 2003, the Scottish Executive commissioned independent research to consider public perceptions of food and farming in Scotland. The research looked at a range of topics including quality assurance. The research showed that 37% of consumers sought information about whether the product was quality assured when purchasing fresh meat products. The research also showed that, when purchasing beef, 27% of shoppers considered origin and 17% considered the production method.

Quality assurance schemes operate throughout Scotland and meet the EN45011 standard. All quality assurance schemes in Scotland are eligible under this measure. If further schemes are established, that operate throughout Scotland and that meet the EN45011 standards, they will be added to the list of eligible schemes through a notification on the Programme.

Member State recognition

Article 32(1)(b) of the Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005 requires the food quality schemes to be Community schemes, or schemes that are recognised by the Member State and which comply with specified criteria, in order to be eligible for support.

Where the schemes are not Community food quality schemes, such recognition can be found in a number of Scottish strategic policy documents. In Scotland, we implement our strategic commitments by recognising quality assurance schemes which are operated according to EN45011 standards and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service ( UKAS). UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government through the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Independence of the inspection bodies

The EN45011 standard provides assurance of the independence of the inspection body, through UKAS accreditation, as required by Article 32(1)(b). The main principles UKAS adheres to in providing assurances to national and internationally recognised standards are independence, third party check of standards and written procedures. Consequently, the organisations which own the quality assurance schemes ( i.e. the standard setting bodies) must be separate from the inspection bodies.

Responding to market opportunities

Standard setting committees are a common feature of quality assurance schemes. They provide a mechanism to keep the standards under review. The aim of such reviews is to ensure the scheme continues to reflect new industry and consumer concerns in a changing marketplace. New standards may consequently be added or existing standards increased in scope and/or stringency. This mechanism also ensures that new legislation is incorporated in the future.

Organic schemes

Specific examples of characteristics of the production process have not been provided for the organic certification schemes as these standards are based on European legislation.

Amount of support for each eligible scheme

The maximum amount of support for participation in food quality assurance schemes will be €3,000/year.

Financing

Total Public Expenditure Cost for Measure 132: 5.1 M Euro
Total EU contribution for Measure 132: 1.4 M Euro

Transition arrangements (including estimated support)

None

* The baseline value for this result indicator will be established once information on sales and prices in supported holdings becomes available.
# Impact indicators will be estimated based on output and result indicators

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