End to beef export ban on agenda

HUILLIN, a Highland cow from the Auchtenny Fold in Perthshire, is pictured on Edinburgh's Calton Hill to mark the decision to host Scotland's first International Beef Quality Conference in the city in June.

Beef industry experts from around the world will come together for the event organised by Quality Meat Scotland, the Scottish red meat industry's representative body.

One of the key themes is likely to be the lifting of trading restrictions which have effectively blocked exports of Scottish beef for nearly 10 years. Current predictions are that the European Union will open the door to trade, worth pounds-150 million a year to Scotland before the cut-off, before the end of the year.

Farms and businesses throughout Scotland will benefit from the move.

Recent research from Quality Meat Scotland suggested that the farming industry is worth pounds-2.16 billion a year to the Scottish economy.

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