The work Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) undertakes to differentiate the industry’s beef, lamb and pork brands will play a crucial role in the post Brexit future of the Scottish red meat industry.

This was the message from QMS chairman Jim McLaren at the launch of the QMS annual review on 1 November, who said that no matter what scenario emerges in the coming years the importance of stimulating demand for red meat from Scotland will be paramount.

He also highlighted the importance of the red meat export trade to Scotland and said it was vital there is strong awareness and clear understanding of the potential impact of political decisions relating to Brexit, on Scottish livestock farming and the wider industry.

QMS will, he said, shortly be publishing a specially commissioned report which highlights the disproportionate importance of the Scottish red meat industry to Scotlands economy.

"The uncertainty surrounding Brexit is a significant concern for those operating in the Scottish red meat industry and it is vital that this lack of clarity does not constrain decision making, investment and long term planning," says McLaren.

The three key areas of uncertainty, he said, relate to trade relationships, the availability of labour in the red meat sector for abattoir work and agricultural policy.

Focusing on the trade scenario, he said the challenge is that while in the short term exchange rates are favouring exports, the extent to which there will be free trade with Europe and the rest of the world in two years time is unknown.

"At one extreme, if there is completely free trade the door could be open to low priced beef from around the globe. However, we would also have tariff-free access to the important EU market for our lamb, for example," he comments.

"The other extreme is there is no free trade agreement, in which case we will have to trade with Europe as a non member state with no tariff rate quotas and we will have to pay full rate European tariffs."

Either scenario would, he said, have significant implications for farm gate and wholesale meat prices.