QMS Assurance Schemes.

Established in 1990, Quality Meat Scotland is the public body responsible for providing agricultural workers and consumers with whole-chain assurance on red meats. This is achieved through a suite of assurance schemes supported by Lloyds Register, ensuring that all livestock is reared to a rigorous set of standards.

Covering animal welfare, food safety and handling, QMS assurance offers a number of benefits and access to wider markets. At present, over 90% of Scottish livestock farmed for red meat is assured to their standards, available to consumers under the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork labels.

Livestock assurance scheme – Cattle, sheep & pigs

Membership provides industry and consumers total assurance that animals produced for the food chain are reared to the highest quality standards. Benefits of assurance include gaining the opportunity to sell livestock to a wider market. This is underpinned by better farming practices and higher animal welfare standards.

Auction markets assurance scheme

Established to complete the QMS assurance chain, Auction Market Assurance grants farmers and auctioneers access to all key livestock markets throughout Scotland. Markets are assessed on welfare, handling, penning, feeding and facility standards. This gives processors and consumers greater confidence in quality and traceability.

Haulage assurance scheme

Applicable to anyone hauling livestock for Hire & Reward operating on a Standard National or International license, becoming a member of this scheme demonstrates a commitment to better haulage and transport practices. Assurance is necessary to transport QMS assured livestock in order for them to retain their QMS assured status.

Feed assurance scheme

Developed for feed manufacturers and merchants, this assurance allows the sale of approved products to the entire QMS Assurance chain. It is a condition of QMS membership that all livestock feed & supplements are sourced by producers that are approved by both the QMS Feed Assurance Scheme and AIC’s Universal Feed Scheme (or proven equivalent).

Anyone selling compound feeds, blended feeds, feeds material, feed blocks, mineral or vitamin supplements, nutraceuticals or animal health supplements not requiring VMD licensing should consider joining this scheme. This also gives you the right to use the QMS logo on company literature, packaging and vehicles.

Experience & expertise

Our Agriculture and Processing Division have been working with QMS for over 20 years. Our team provide a full range of management and audit services – from the provision of over 9,000 inspections per year to routine reporting and certification. We offer streamlined methods of assessing current compliance and comprehensive feedback on improvement areas.

Year-round technical support

Members of QMS Assurance Schemes benefit from year-round technical guidance from our agriculture team, ensuring that your business remains accredited and operates towards the highest possible standards.

Efficiency

Where possible, we will combine audits to save you time and money. Our effective and robust audit processes ensure minimum impact on your day-to-day business.

Help LR to help others

The profits Lloyd’s Register generates go to the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charitable organisation supporting engineering-related research, education and public engagement around LR initiatives. Knowing our efforts contribute to such a cause reinforces our purpose: working together for a safer world.