Bacon Quality Standard Scheme

The British Meat Quality Standard for Pigmeat is an initiative aimed at providing consumers with a single, comprehensive and recognisable Quality Standard for Pork, Bacon, Ham and Sausages.

 

You may well have already seen the Quality Standard Mark on packs of Pork, Bacon, Sausages and Ham at your local retailer.

 

All Pork, Bacon, Sausages and Ham that carries this mark comes from farmers committed to high standards of animal welfare, quality control and traceability. The production chain is independently audited to ensure compliance with these standards.

 

Animal welfare issues are becoming increasingly important to food shoppers who want to be reassured that what happens on the farm and in transport is professionally carried out using acceptable welfare, husbandry and healthcare standards and practices.

 

Prior to the development of the Quality Standard however, there existed a number of separate industry schemes that were responsible for maintaining high standards of animal welfare and food safety in the production of Pork, Bacon, Sausages and Ham. As a result these schemes were not well known and were not easily identifiable on packs within the supermarket or local butcher.

 

The Quality Standard for Pork, Bacon, Sausages and Ham brings together the existing schemes and standards covering elements of farm assurance, transportation and pork processing. In addition current legislation and strict industry codes of practice are incorporated.

 

This single standard and all its elements will be independently audited to ensure that the standard is maintained and that where you see the Quality Standard Mark on pack you can be assured of the highest standards of animal welfare, quality control and traceability of product.