Quality Meat Scotland's meat eating quality project is moving into its second phase following a trip by managers to study best practice in the meat chains in Australia and New Zealand. The fact finding trip followed a QMS led visit by producers and processors to the US last year. A similar trip down under may now follow. In all countries QMS md Alasdair Muir said he was impressed by the unity of the food chain and the good communications throughout about specs, standards and precise consumer requirements. "Retailer links back to suppliers are more proactive than can sometimes be the case here," said Muir. "The food chains are united in alliance to ensure consistent feedback and there is a closer focus on delivering precisely what consumers want. "You have instances of processors going into farms six times a year interacting with individual producers." He also admired the way producers were given strong incentives to produce meat consistently to specification. "Being 100% to spec and 100% on time can mean a 100% bonus. The more spec is right, the more producers are rewarded," said Muir. {{MEAT }}