Sheep Carcase Classification and Price Reporting in England: What You Need to Know

In 2025, the UK government is rolling out new regulations aimed at ensuring sheep farmers receive fair compensation for their livestock. Let’s break down what these regulations mean for the sheep industry in England.

What's Happening?

The new regulations require larger abattoirs to classify sheep carcases (from sheep younger than 12 months) using a standard scale for fat and shape. The idea is to ensure consistency in how sheep are presented and priced after slaughter. This not only helps in transparency but also ensures fairness in the market.

Key Requirements:

1. Classification and Reporting: Abattoirs must classify sheep carcases using a specific scale and report the classification, weight, and price to both the supplier and designated bodies.

2. Licensing System: Both human classifiers and automated systems need to be licensed. Automated systems must undergo an authorization process before they can be used.

3. Identification and Labelling: Carcases must be properly labelled to enable data traceability back to the original sheep.

4. Application: These rules are applicable in England, though the regulations form part of the law in both England and Wales.

Why the Change?

The aim is to align the sheep sector with existing rules in the beef and pork industries, which have had similar regulations for years. By standardizing the classification and pricing of sheep carcases, the government hopes to ensure sheep farmers can negotiate fair payments and have better data to make informed business decisions.

Impact on the Industry:

• Who It Affects: The regulations primarily target abattoirs processing at least 2,000 sheep per week, capturing over 85% of sheep slaughtered. Smaller abattoirs can choose to opt-in.
• Expected Benefits: Greater transparency in pricing should help sheep farmers understand market trends and negotiate better deals. It also provides a consistent data set for policy and planning.

Consultation and Feedback:

The government consulted various stakeholders, including farmers' unions and meat processors. Most respondents agreed with the proposals, although there were concerns about potential delays in using automated classification technology.

Future Monitoring:

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will oversee compliance, conducting inspections and issuing penalties for non-compliance. The effectiveness of the regulations will be regularly assessed through data collection and user surveys.

In summary, these new regulations are designed to bring more transparency and fairness to the sheep meat market, benefiting farmers by providing clearer and more consistent pricing data.