The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) and NFU have agreed upon a code of practice, which is now set to be introduced.
 
At last year’s Beef Summit, hosted by Defra food and farming minister George Eustice, the BMPA gave an undertaking to develop a processor code of practice for the purchase of cattle, aimed at enhancing transparency and trust in relations between processors and livestock producers.
 
Though an agreement on the code was reached on Tuesday, meaning it can now be introduced, the code remains voluntary and does not cover prices. It has two main features: it commits individual processor signatories to being open and clear about their own company’s terms and conditions of trading, and signatories undertake to give 12 weeks’ notice of changes to these terms and conditions.
 
Cattle processors across the UK - whether or not they are member companies of the BMPA - are now being encouraged to sign up to the code. Other groups in the supply chain, including food serviced companies, retailers and renderers are also being urged to adopt the code’s principles.

BMPA President, Peter Mitchell, said: “Responsible and forward-thinking processors understand the need to be open about their terms and conditions of trading with their producer suppliers and to give reasonable notice of changes to them. Signing up to the code is a visible sign of this recognition, and a commitment to constructive relations with beef producers in order to improve the efficiency of the beef supply chain and so together we can better meet the needs of the marketplace.” 
 
NFU Livestock Board Chairman, Charles Sercombe added, “This is a welcome step in the right direction as we continue to seek more openness and transparency in the supply chain. What is critical to our members is the stability that this code should bring, which will allow producers to plan ahead and market their cattle without sudden or unexpected changes to conditions of sale. We hope this will help beef producers to manage the volatility we have seen in recent years and provide a clearer understanding of the terms and conditions that are on offer”.
 
As the host of last year’s Beef Summit, Defra food and farming minister George Eustice MP said: “The code should help to improve people’s confidence in the system. It is a good step forward and I encourage processors to commit to it and retailers and renderers to get behind it and give it their support.”