Scottish produce and the major issues affecting agriculture within Scotland were high on the agenda last week as NFUS President, John Kinnaird, held a series of talks in Brussels.

Mr Kinnaird met with members of the Directorate General for Agriculture (DG Agriculture) at which the implications for Scottish agriculture of the current World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks were discussed. In addition, Mr Kinnaird spoke on the panel during a seminar, chaired by Elspeth Attwooll MEP, where rural development, in both a Scottish and EU context, was debated.

All seven of the Scottish MEPs, together with Ross Finnie, Scottish Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, later hosted a ‘Best of Scotland’ reception in the European Parliament, during which over 500 guests were treated to a three course meal, all of which was dedicated to Scottish produce.

John Kinnaird, speaking at the reception, said:

“Tonight, Scotch beef is back where it rightly belongs – on the dinner plates of discerning citizens from all countries within the EU. Everybody here this evening fully appreciates the superb eating quality of the Scottish food presented. Significantly, the Scotch beef has been highly praised and appreciated by those attending the reception. This clearly demonstrates that the return of Scotch beef to the European market is long overdue.

“No-one should underestimate the considerable time and effort required to get the beef to this reception. The tremendous effort put in by Scotbeef and the Scottish Executive is appreciated by us all.

“It is absurd that Scotch beef is not permitted access to the EU market to allow companies such as Scotbeef to continually export where these is clearly consumer demand.

“Mr Finnie and the Scottish MEPs have done a first class job of raising the profile of Scotland and its high quality produce.”

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