Scotch beef back in Belgium

Scottish Food Minister, Ross Finnie will attend a dinner at the UK's Ambassador to Belgium's residence today, to relaunch Scotch beef back into the Belgian market.

The Minister will also host a tasting session at Van Engelandt, one of the leading meat importers in Brussels and renowned for the quality of its produce.

Mr Finnie said:

"Ten years ago Scotch Beef was regarded as one of world's top quality products. It was in great demand in the leading butchers and restaurants of the world.

"The traditional methods of rearing and producing quality beef herds in Scotland over that period have not changed but the industry has moved with the times. Scottish farmers have used science to improve further the taste of their produce and introduced tighter specifications for quality.

"Today Scotch beef is back on the European menu and you will notice only one difference – the quality is better than ever."

Scotch beef will be served to top Belgian chefs, restauranteurs and supermarket buyers at the Ambassador's residence. This will provide an opportunity for the Minister to promote Scotch beef in the Belgian market.

The Belgian visit is one in a series of engagements being undertaken by the Food Minister in conjuction with Quality Meat Scotland in order to support the campaign to market Scotch beef and its return to European markets.