Quality Standard
Mark Scheme
for Beef and Lamb
The Benets
A word about
Quality Assurance
The EBLEX Quality Standard Mark Scheme for beef and lamb and the Red Tractor Scheme from
Assured Food Standards both provide a guarantee of assurance, encompassing food safety,
animal welfare and care for the environment.
The EBLEX Quality Standard Mark Scheme builds on this by embracing additional eating
quality requirements. The two schemes sit side by side as perfect partners, offering
companies the choice.
A pre requisite of membership for either scheme is that your business must be assured
with one of the recognised* quality assurance schemes (*see back page). EBLEX can help
businesses who are not currently assured by arranging a pre-audit to ascertain if any major
non-conformances are present before a full inspection (subject to funding).
The assurance scheme previously known as ABM is now referred to as the Red Tractor
Assurance Meat Processing Scheme but this still facilitates membership of the Quality
Standard Scheme as the ABM scheme did.
– for more details see page 4.
Quality Standard Mark Scheme
The Quality Standard Mark Scheme for beef and lamb provides
one of the highest levels of independently-inspected quality
assurance for
meat in the United Kingdom.
Equivalent to the Red Tractor Scheme, the standards contain
combined guarantees of food safety, animal welfare and care
for the environment but additional requirements also provide a
guarantee of consistent, enhanced eating quality.
The Quality Standard Mark Scheme has a specific logo for veal.
Qualifying livestock must be under 8 months of age and be
compliant with the scheme standards for beef.
Red Tractor Scheme
Red Tractor assurance standards for beef and
lamb encompass food safety, animal welfare,
environmental protection and traceability.
The basic welfare needs of sheep and cattle
must not be compromised at any stage of their
lives and farmers must ensure that their farming
practices do not damage the environment.
Animals need to be identifiable and traceable back to their farms of origin and moved in clean
vehicles so that the beef and lamb produced is free from contamination and safe to eat.
For further details about the Quality Standard Mark Scheme
and the Red Tractor Scheme visit eblextrade.co.uk or call the
Quality Standard Scheme hotline on 0845 491 8787
2
Guaranteed Assurance
Standards
The flag in the Red Tractor scheme logo
indicates the state of origin (eg British,
with the Union flag), but the Quality
Standard Mark Scheme can be more
precise (eg English, using the St George’s
flag, or British, with the Union flag).
The table opposite provides a summary
of the guaranteed assurance standards
associated with each scheme.
Independently audited
✓ ✓
Farm Assurance/Assured Auction Mart
✓ ✓
Assured Transport
✓ ✓
Assured Abattoir
✓ ✓
Assured Cutting Plant
✓ ✓
Further Processing
✓ ✓
Wholesaler
✓ ✓
Eating Quality Beef
✓ ✗
Eating Quality Lamb
✓ ✗
Carcase Specification (beef/lamb)
✓ ✗
Beef Mince specification
✓ ✗
Beef Mince Burgers specification
✓ ✗
Minimum 14 day
maturation. Or hip
bone suspension or
electrical stimulation,
either would need min
7 day maturation*
3
EBLEX Quality Standard Mark
beef and lamb qualifying criteria
Bring Benets to Your Business
The following are some of the benefits of being a Red Tractor
Assured Meat Processor:
Wider Market Access
•Increasedmarketopportunities–beingassuredexpands
the number of outlets you can supply.
•Demandforassuredproductsisgrowingasfurther
processors, foodservice and public procurement
contracts specify assurance, Red Tractor or Quality
Standard Mark.
Eligibility for Quality logos
•TheRedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
is one of the qualifying schemes for the Red Tractor Logo
(on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey) and the Quality
Standard Mark (on beef and lamb).
•BybeingaRedTractorAssuredMeatProcessoryou
do not need to have BRC certification for your product
to be eligible for the Red Tractor Logo or Quality
Standard Mark (however some of your customers
may still specify BRC).
Due diligence
•Duediligence–beingassuredaidscompliancewith
the Food Safety Act for processors and their buyers.
Bring Benefits to Your Business.
4
If you would like more information on this pre-audit service
please call the scheme hotline on 0845 491 8787
Assurance – Pre-audit
Benchmarking your businesses
EBLEX is happy to offer a pre-audit to supply chain businesses which are not currently assured.
This will help to identify any possible major non-conformances which should be rectified
ahead of arranging their own audit.
Assessment Content
The assessment standards are organised in the following modules:
•FoodSafety
•Traceability
•AnimalWelfare
•PorkQuality(additionalbolt-on)
The food safety module is only applicable to members who are not certified to the
BRC Global Standard for Food Safety which is applicable at different stages of the
meat processing chain.
What’s involved?
Membership guidelines
In addition to assurance inspections we audit your Quality Standard Scheme
membershiptoverifyschemestandards–it’ssimplebutit’svital.Auditingisall
about traceability and labelling, being able at all stages to show a clear assured
chain and separation from non-Quality Standard beef and lamb. For full details
please refer to the scheme protocol document, a copy of which can be requested
fromtheschemeHotline–08454918787.
Beef labelling requirements are a statutory requirement and should be evident
at all stages. Please see below for an outline of the key requirements.
Approved Distributors
Should be able to show by documentation:
•ThatQualityStandardbeefandlambcanonlybesuppliedboxedorvac-packedandmustbe
obtained from an assured Quality Standard Mark Scheme member.
•ThatdeliverynotesandinvoicesshouldclearlyidentifyQualityStandardbeefandlamb.
Retailers
Should be able to show by documentation:
That beef and lamb sold as Quality Standard is from an approved supplier (delivery notes/
invoices). Retailers should be able to demonstrate separation in display and storage of Quality
Standard and non-Quality Standard beef and lamb. Retailers should be complying with beef
labelling requirements by clearly indicating to consumers:
•Atraceabilitynumberorcode
•‘Origin:UK’
•SlaughteredintheUK(approvalnumberofabattoir)
•CuttingintheUK(approvalnumberofcuttingplant)
Where there is a specific origin claim of English, eg on the Quality Standard Mark logo,
theoriginstatementshouldbe‘Origin:UK(England)’.
Abattoirs
Should be able to show by documentation:
•ThatlivestockslaughteredhasderivedfromanapprovedFarmAssuredScheme.
•ThatQualityStandardbeefandlambisclearlymarkedandseparated
from non-Quality Standard beef and lamb.
•Thatmaturation(whereappropriate)iscarriedoutaccordingtothestandard’s
requirements.
•ThatdeliverynotesandinvoicesindicatetheproductisQualityStandardbeeforlamb.
Catering Butchers, Wholesalers and Processors
Should be able to show by documentation:
•ThattheirQualityStandardbeefandlambhasbeensuppliedfromanassuredabattoir
that is a member of the Quality Standard Mark Scheme.
• ThatQualityStandardbeefandlambisseparatedfromnon-QualityStandardproduct.
•ThatinvoicesanddeliverynotesclearlyhighlightQualityStandardbeefandlambfrom
non-Quality Standard product.
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Foodservice
•Trade Literature–EBLEXcanhelpwith
the development of trade literature and
consumer leaflets to assist sales of
Quality Standard beef and lamb.
•Product Events–Helptohostevent
days promoting new business
initiatives or Quality Standard Mark
product launches.
•New Product Development–
Developingnewproductideasfor
Quality Standard beef and lamb, to
improve carcase utilisation, play an
important role in developing new
business.
•Regional Support–Highlightthe
importance of regional supply to their
customers in terms of differentiation
and specialism.
•Sales Initiatives–Assistingcompanies
with increasing sales of Quality
Standard beef and lamb.
Retailers
•Point of Sale–Posters,cabinet
branding, cut charts and recipe books.
•Business Health Checks–Usethe
costing model on the website and
boost profit potential.
•Sales Events–On-packinitiatives,
product awareness, consumer
literature, EBLEX is here to help
increase sales of Quality Standard beef
and lamb.
•Recipe & Consumer Information
Simple, easy- to-prepare recipes
to inspire consumers. Literature is
alsoavailabletoexplainnutritional
information, cooking guidelines and
alternative cuts.
I n d e p e n d e n t l y i n s p e c t e d f r o m f a r m t o s h o p , p r o v i d i n g t o t a l p r o d u c t i n t e g r i t y .
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c i p e i d e a s v i s i t w w w . s i m p l y b e e f a n d l a m b . c o . u k
EBL EX is a di vis ion o f t he Agr ic ult ure an d Hor ti cul tur e D eve lo pme nt Bo ard .
C a r v e r y L e g o f L a m b
E a t i n g Q u a l i t y
G u a r a n t e e d
Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d l a m b
I n d e p e n d e n t l y i n s p e c t e d f r o m f a r m t o s h o p , p r o v i d i n g t o t a l p r o d u c t i n t e g r i t y .
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c i p e i d e a s v i s i t w w w . s i m p l y b e e f a n d l a m b . c o . u k
EBL EX is a di vis ion o f t he Agr ic ult ure an d Hor ti cul tur e D eve lo pme nt Bo ard .
F i l l e t S t e a k
E a t i n g Q u a l i t y
G u a r a n t e e d
Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d b e e f
6
The Benets
Free marketing support materials for you and
your customers
Abattoirs, Processors and Wholesalers
•Quality Standard Mark Carcase Labels–Forthehomeandexportmarkets.
•Research & Development–Researchisimportanttoanybusinesstokeeponestepahead.
EBLEXhasaspecicR&Dteam.
•Quality Standard Mark On-Pack Stickers–AvailableforQualityStandardbeefandlambto
promote the brand on-pack, in shops and stores.
•Quality Standard Mark Box Labels–Largefreezer-friendlyQualityStandardMarkstickers
areavailableforboxedbeefandlamb.
•Company Branding–Companiescangetadviceandsupportiftheyneedtodeveloptheir
sales of Quality Standard Mark product.
•Export Brochures–TohelpyoupromotesalesofQualityStandardMarkproductinthe
exportmarket.
•Cutting Specification Manual and Meat Purchasing Guide–Beef,lamb,muttonandveal
cutting specifications are available.
How membership can help
you boost your business
Case study from a Cumbrian-based Catering Butcher
and member of the Quality Standard Mark Scheme
“WhenmycompanyjoinedtheschemeinNovember2004,wewereimmediatelyimpressedontheknowledge
transferinterfacewehadwiththeirresearchanddevelopmentteam.The‘FlatIron’steakderivedfromthe
chuck,usingnewbutcherytechniques,hasrevolutionisedourbusiness.Wearenowcutting200kilosforour
foodservice clients every week.
“The latest product development to impress us and benefit our business
isthe‘LambVictoriaRoast’;againanewproductfromtheforequarter,
great value and perfect for the hotel and licensed sector caterers.
“The latest development from EBLEX in relation to its Quality Standard
MarkSchemeisanotherexampleofhowtheschemeisdeveloping
and providing the industry with the tools and knowledge to enhance
profitability and sustainability. The specifications now lay down
benchmark standards for guaranteed eating quality and, from a
supplier perspective, the new carcase classifications for beef and
lamb will encourage farmers to provide livestock with higher meat
yield, vital for profit and overall carcase value.
“AnotherexampleofEBLEXliftingthebar,improvingefciency
and adding value to the industry.”
David Jenkins
“What consumers
are saying”
78
%
*
79
%
*
*YouGovSurvey–PreparedforAHDB-March2012.
of consumers agree
the Mark indicates
quality
of consumers
believe they can
trust the Mark
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How to become
a member...
Follow these simple steps
•Ifyouarealreadyamemberofoneofthe*recognisedqualityassuranceschemes
(*see below) all you need to do is request a membership declaration form from the
dedicated scheme Hotline number below, complete it and return using the freepost facility
included and your business is all set to start benefiting.
•IfyourbusinessisnotyetassuredthenpleasecalltheschemeHotlineandwecanarrange
for a pre-audit (as outlined on page 4), this will help with a straightforward assessment when
it comes to your inspection.
Get involved and start beneting today
*Recognised quality assurance schemes
EBLEX, Stoneleigh Park,
Kenilworth,
WarwickshireCV82TL
EBLEXisadivisionoftheAgricultureandHorticultureDevelopmentBoard.
Beef and Lamb
Farm Assurance/
Assured Auction
Mart
• RedTractorAssuranceforFarms–BeefandLamb
(Previously ABM Beef and Lamb Assurance)
• FarmAssuredWelshLivestock(FAWL)
• RedTractorAssuranceforLivestockMarketsandCollectionCentres
(Previously ABM Auction Market Standards)
• NIBLFQASNorthernIrelandBeefandLambFarmQualityAssuranceScheme
• QMS-CattleandSheep
• GenesisQualityAssurance(WholeFarm)(BeefandSheepModule)
Transport
• RedTractorforLivestockTransportScheme(PreviouslyABMTransportStandard)
• QMS-Haulage
Abattoir
• RedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
(Previously ABM Abattoirs & Cutting Plants)
• GlobalFoodStandard(BRC)+RedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
(Traceability and Animal Welfare Modules)
• InternationalFoodStandard(IFS)+RedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
(Traceability and Animal Welfare Modules)
• QMS-Processor
Cutting Plant/
Further
Processing
• RedTractorMeatProcessingScheme
• QMS-Processor
• GlobalFoodStandard(BRC)+*RedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
(Traceability Module)
• InternationalFoodStandard(IFS)+*RedTractorAssuranceMeatProcessingScheme
(Traceability Module)
• NACBCateringButchersStandard
Wholesaler
• StorageandDistributionStandard(BRC)
• InternationalFoodStandards(IFS)-Logistics
• CMIStandardforStorage,WholesaleandDistribution
*The EBLEX appointed auditing company is approved to audit these additional modules.
EBLEX will consider requests from other comparable assurance schemes for recognition.
For more information visit www.eblextrade.co.uk
or call the scheme Hotline on 0845 491 8787