The government has confirmed it will take action to support sheep farmers following a Defra and Welsh Government six-week consultation earlier this year.
The consultation aimed to establish a more transparent and productive sheep sector and ran from the end of January to March 2024.
The consultation asked for views on proposals for a mandatory carcass classification and deadweight price reporting scheme for the sheep sector.
It also asked for views on the mechanisms for authorising automated grading methods that could be used in England and Wales for the classification of beef and sheep carcasses in abattoirs slaughtering these species.
The new legislation will cover standardising dressing specs, weighing carcasses to 0.1 kg and price reporting for all abattoirs processing more than 2000 sheep per week, with full oversight provided by the RPA.聽
鈥淒efra鈥檚 commitment to introduce regulation for the sheep sector has been a long time coming, and it鈥檚 a huge positive for sheep farmers up and down the country.鈥�
NFU Livestock Board chair David Barton
In a statement, Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said a new package of measures will ensure fairness in the sheep supply chain.
The move will ensure producers receive a fair price for their livestock by bringing forward legislation to mandate sheep carcass classification and price reporting.
This will bring the sheep sector in line with the beef and pork sectors.
皇家华人has worked to secure this ask for more than ten years.
Positive step
To finally see a commitment to introduce regulation is extremely positive for the GB sheep sector.
NFU Livestock Board chair David Barton said: 鈥淒efra鈥檚 commitment to introduce regulation for the sheep sector has been a long time coming, and it鈥檚 a huge positive for sheep farmers up and down the country.
鈥溁始一薴ully supports the proposals for mandatory sheep carcass classification, standardising dressing specifications, weighing carcases to 0.1 kg and price reporting for larger abattoirs. We also believe the RPA鈥檚 role in licensing and auditing is vital for the scheme鈥檚 success.
鈥淲e look forward to seeing these measures bring much-needed transparency and fairness to the sector, benefitting farmers, processors and customers across the wider supply chain.鈥�