UPDATE 20TH NOVEMBER 2020

What is the advice for forming bubbles at Christmas?

The Scottish government has published its guidance on forming household bubbles over the festive period. The advice covers how many people will be able to meet in Scotland, and the rules on where that can happen.

What is a bubble?

The current Covid rules will be relaxed between 23 and 27 December to allow people to travel within the UK and spend Christmas together in bubbles of up to three households.
The Scottish government has recommended that these bubbles should contain a maximum of eight people – although children under the age of 12 do not count towards that total, and do not need to physically distance from others.
Everyone else is encouraged to keep 2m (6ft 6in) away from those outside their own household as much as possible to lower the risk of transmitting the virus.
You can only be in one Christmas bubble, and cannot change to a different one.
The government says anyone thinking of creating a bubble should carefully consider the risks. It stresses that people do not have to meet other people or feel pressured to spend Christmas with another household.
The advice is to keep in touch using technology wherever you can, limit the number of times that you meet in person – and to gather outside if possible. For example, go for a walk rather than having a meal together.
Those in extended households can form a bubble, but it can only contain one extended household.

Where parents do not live in the same household, children can still move between their homes if they are in different bubbles.

Where can people meet?
Those in a bubble can only gather in a private home, outdoors or at a place of worship. For those meeting in someone's home, it is possible to stay overnight.
If you are meeting in someone's home it is recommended that you:
• open a door or window to let in as much fresh air as you can, both during and after a visit
• keep 2m away from people not in your usual household
• wash your hands frequently
• regularly clean touch points, such as door handles and surfaces
• avoid sharing cutlery or crockery if possible
People should not mix with other households elsewhere. If you are going to a pub, restaurant or a leisure or entertainment venue, you are urged to stay within your own household.
The opening hours for hospitality venues will follow the rules which apply in that area at the time.
The government says people in a bubble should not stay in tourist accommodation together as a group.
In addition, you should not go shopping with those in your bubble and should shop on your own wherever possible.
What are the rules on travel?
Travel restrictions will be relaxed from 23 to 27 December to allow people to travel between local authority areas and the four UK nations to join a bubble.
If you are using public transport, the advice is to book ahead where possible and follow the rules on wearing face coverings while travelling.
Anyone travelling to or from a Scottish island should make their journey within the five-day period from 23 to 27 December.
Once you have arrived, you should then follow the travel guidance which applies in the area where you are staying. If that is in level three or four, for example, you would have to avoid any non-essential travel outside that council area.

Retail sales trends in covid tier levels

We have been asked by our colleagues at the Scottish Meat Wholesalers Association to provide feedback on sales and ordering of products in the different tiers in Scotland.
In the lead up to Christmas it would be beneficial to identify if sales/orders of particular products ( beef, pork, lamb and poultry) have increased or decreased depending on which tier the area of the country is in.
If you can give us a little information on the trends you are experiencing, or have noticed a significant change you think we should know about, please e-mail Bruce using the details below and we will feed back to the other stakeholders at our weekly meetings which are on a Monday.

Scottish National Fat Stock Club, LiveScot Exhibition and Sale 2020 Tomorrow!

With Covid 19 disrupting plans for a normal LiveScot event, the Trustees of the Scottish National Fat Stock Club have made the decision to hold an Exhibition and Sale of the top-quality Prime Stock that would attend our event. This will be held on Saturday 28th November at Lanark Market where we have 57 Prime Cattle and 170 Prime Lambs entered for sale including: 9 x Native bullocks 16 pairs Beltex 9 x Native heifers 12 pairs Texel 18 x Continental bullocks 28 pairs Blackface 21 x Continental heifers 13 pairs Cheviots 7 pairs Mules 9 pairs Suffolks
We would like to invite you to our auction to view the fantastic stock we have to offer. These will be some of the best Cattle and Sheep available in the Country in the run up to Christmas, which I am sure is one of your busiest times of the year!
The usual prize tickets will be awarded at the pre-sale exhibition with duplicate rosettes and prize cards going along with the animal to the top bidder for each lot. This year all the exhibitors are Scottish based.
With 80% of the cattle and all the lambs being Scottish bred, these animals are reared to the highest of standards and will be a great example to promote Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb.
Light refreshments will be available on arrival at the market from 12 noon with the sales commencing at: 1.00 pm Auction Sale of Sheep 2.00 pm Auction Sale of Cattle I would appreciate with the current guidance if you could register with Lawrie & Symington on 01555 662281 to book a place for this sale.
Please note all social distancing measures will be in place and face masks are mandatory within the market.

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