1. Meat
Legal Requirements
Scottish Beef or beef labelled as ‘Product of Scotland’
Means the beef legally needs to have come from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland. These rules do not apply to other meat such as lamb or pork.
Menus using such descriptions must ensure the meat served actually complies with these various legal definitions.
Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, Welsh Beef, Welsh Lamb
These names have legal status as ‘Protected Food Names’ within the EU via a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). It means that the meat has come from an animal born, reared and slaughtered in named country, and has met published and quality assured standards in its production including how the animals are reared.
Menus using such descriptions must ensure the meat served actually complies with these various legal definitions.
Orkney Beef, Orkney Lamb, Shetland Lamb, Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan Lamb
The above names have legal status as ‘Protected Food Names’ within the EU via a Protected Designation Origin (PDO). It means that the meat has come from an animal born, reared and slaughtered in the named region, and has met published and quality assured standards in its production including how the animals are reared.
Menus using such descriptions must ensure the meat served actually complies with these legal definitions.
Traditionally Farmed Gloucestershire Old Spots Pork
This name has legal status as a ‘Protected Food Name’ within the EU as a Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG). It means that the pork has been produced from Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs reared using traditional methods as regards feed, stocking density and husbandry.
Applications for EU Protected Food Names are also currently being processed for: Traditional Grass-Fed Red Poll Beef, West Country Beef and Lamb, Traditional Pasture Reared Beef and Lakeland Herdwick.
Best Practice Guidelines
There is no obligation on caterers to show the origin of any meat on their menus, but if they choose to do so, they are required by food and trading standards law to ensure that their descriptions do not mislead the customer.
When the terms ‘Scottish’, or ‘Product of Scotland’ are applied to meat (excluding beef) this means that Scotland was the last place of ‘substantial change’, which can just mean processing such as curing or cooking. Such meat may have been born, reared and slaughtered elsewhere in the world.
However, ‘Scottish Beef’, or beef labelled as ‘Product of Scotland’ will have been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland.
Breed information does not offer any guarantees as to place of origin of the meat, only the type of animal it came from e.g. ‘Aberdeen Angus Beef’ for example is reared world-wide.
How to Apply in Your Business
If you name meat on your menu by any of legal definitions given above, the onus is on you to make sure that’s what it is.
Check with your supplier that it meets the rules, and order by its exact name. For example, to be sure you get quality assured Scotch meat you could use the following wording in any order or agreed specification; “The beef or lamb you supply to my business must meet the definition of ‘Scotch’ as defined under the EU PGI legislation.”
Some suppliers have similar brand or descriptive names, but they may not meet the legal definitions. Always check.
Asking your supplier for more details on the actual source of meat (excluding beef) described as ‘Scottish’ or ‘Product of Scotland’, or buying direct from the farm may enable you to make more accurate or detailed origin claims.
