MLCSL EXTENDS CLASSIFICATION SCHEME

Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL) has announced that the Parker family owned Randall Parker Foods has signed up for its carcass classification service, meaning that MLCSL now classifies more than 80% of the cattle slaughtered in Britain each year.

The MLCSL's independent classification service is accredited by UKAS, the sole national accreditation body recognised by governments to assess against internationally agreed standards.

MLCSL's chief executive Peter Phythian said that independent carcass classification "provides reassurance to both the farmer and processor and forms an independent base on which to trade."

"We are delighted to be associated with Randall Parker Foods and look forward to carrying out our independent classification service within their plant," he added.

Randall Parker Foods managing director Jim Gaffney said: "Contracting the MLCSL enables us to maintain consistent standards of grading which gives our farmers the confidence they need to ensure their stock is continually independently assessed."