CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 15th April 2020

Scottish Government additional support for business.

Second phase of funding to protect against the effects of COVID-19.
Around £220 million of further grants are being made available for businesses – including the recently self-employed – to help them deal with the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The new package of measures includes £120 million to extend the Small Business Grant scheme to ensure that, in addition to a 100% grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75% grant on all subsequent properties.

More here :-
—Additional Support for Business

A joint statement from Food Standards Scotland and Food Standards Agency.

COVID-19 Statement – Food Standards Scotland, Food Standards Agency, and representatives of the UK Meat Industry
14 APRIL 2020

On Thursday (9 April), Food Standards Scotland, the Food Standards Agency and leaders of the UK's meat industry, large and small, held a constructive meeting to keep track of our combined responses to the challenges created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused unprecedented impacts on the everyday lives of people across the UK. The meat industry is bearing its share of the significant consequences.
As the country navigates the Covid-19 challenges, and the rapidly changing situation, we recognise the great disruption and uncertainty this emergency has created for many in the meat sector.
In particular, there are thousands of key food workers who selflessly continue to work every day on the front-line including food business and Food Standards Scotland staff. They have our deep and sincere thanks for their commitment to maintaining the nation's food supply. Together, we are taking steps to ensure they are kept as safe as possible whilst they undertake these vital roles.
As regulators and industry bodies, we share many common aims: being committed to producing safe food, protecting consumers, and ensuring high animal welfare standards.
Without the support and co-operation of individual meat businesses, large and small, up and down the country, and of key industry players over the last few weeks, it would not have been possible for us to achieve those aims. We are determined to continue with this spirit of co-operation. It will be vital in ensuring that we overcome the further challenges we will doubtless face over the coming weeks and months.
We remain committed to working together in a flexible, pragmatic and responsive way, to maintain the supply of safe food across all four nations during this time of crisis.
The meeting between Food Standards Scotland, the Food Standards Agency and senior representatives of meat industry trade bodies took place on Thursday 9 April.

The joint statement has been agreed by:

• Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS)
• British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)
• British Poultry Council (BPC)
• Food Standards Scotland
• The Food Standards Agency
• Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC)
• The International Meat Traders Association (IMTA)
• National Craft Butchers
• National Farmers Union
• Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA)
• Provision Trade Federation
• Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW)

Unfortunately, we were not asked to participate in this meeting, hence our name is not included in the list of signatories.

However, we wish to say we agree with all the content and want to say a massive thanks to all who work in our industry for the huge effort put in to ensure the public get the food they need at this difficult time!
Thankyou!

April market report from QMS
Please find attached to this update the early market report from Quality Meat Scotland which lists the trends in consumer purchases and also the prices at the markets around the country.

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is now closed following government guidelines.
We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.
Our contact details are below
Gordon King: – [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922

Attachments:

• QMS_market-report-apr-2020.pdf