Written question asked by Anna Gelderd (Labour) on Friday, 18 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. It was answered by Daniel Zeichner (Labour) on Thursday, 24 July 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Sheep Meat: Prices

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025 on (a) small-scale and (b) hill farmers in South East Cornwall constituency.

Answer

The Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025 on small scale and hill farmers in South East Cornwall.

The mandating of sheep carcase classification and price reporting will create a more transparent, productive and efficient sheep market across the UK. It will encourage producers to improve productivity and to rear sheep to better meet market specifications and consumer demand, bringing the sector in line with the beef and pig sectors. Carcases will be assessed against a consistent grading and pricing system rewarding producers for the quality of lambs being sent for slaughter.

The regulations will be applicable to abattoirs with a throughput of at least 2,000 sheep per week. Abattoirs processing 1,000 to 1999 sheep per week are able to opt into the mandatory scheme. The weekly throughput of 2,000 sheep per week will exempt smaller abattoirs from the scheme so that we do not place additional regulatory and administrative burdens on them.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 69146
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Farmers Prices Regulation Sheep meat South East Cornwall
Legislation: Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Sheep Meat: Prices

Secondary information

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