Beef Certification Mark

[Ted Neal]

What a shame the Society has seen fit to charge members extra for use of the Certification Mark. I would have thought it would be something we are all entitled to use. The increase in herd book cost will probably mean that for the first time in my 28 years membership I will not buy one; and I can assure you that originally the Herd Book was free to all paid up members.
I know that the Central Group wrote a year ago about the ever increasing costs of membership and were told that the Society needed to keep an amount for a rainy day, well with over £181k in the reserves, to quote Sean Lock, "We seem better prepared than Noah".
Come on Society it is time to stop being a profit making company and help members through what is a very expensive time to breed and market cattle.

[ann]

I think the problem with the herd book is two fold, with so many animals now being registered it is just getting bigger every year and once the society started charging for it, a lot of people are not prepared to pay for it. so the production costs are spread over fewer people and so it costs more, plus the postage costs. I am not defending the society just stating the obvious, and for the first time since i became a member some 25 yrs ago, i have not pd for a herd book. It is a decision I haven't taken lightly but although the on line herd book still needs some tweeking it is more environmentally friendly that a filing cabinet of herd books, even though I for ever seem to be looking up people's telephone numbers to pass on enquirers when i get dexter inquiries from people who want beef or bull hires etc.

[Broomcroft]

How much does the Certification Mark cost? And what does it mean? Do you have parent verification of steers? We sell pure and cross Dexters to butchers and have never had it mentioned. I wasn't aware it even existed although I knew there was a beef scheme.

[Jac]

The rules of the scheme can be found on the Society's web site. However, I contacted the Rural Payments Agency who amongst other things are the government agency reponsible for policing the beef labelling regulations to find out whether I could use the 'trade mark' on my beef packs and boxes as it states 'Dexter Beef' on the mark. Their response was that it is illegal to use the mark unless one is also independently verified by one of their 'approved' assessors (I have enquired in the past about being independently verified to label my beef as 'Dexter' and the cost was £300 annually).

There does appear to be a 'self confessed loophole' in that, if you do not have direct ordering facilities on your own web site which I took to mean 'on-line shop' or PayPal buttons then it cannot be considered 'point of sale' so that is OK - anyway the chap in charge of this at RPA checked my site and said it was OK to use the mark on that provided my packs and boxes only contained the compulsory labelling details and not the sticker.

By the same token, then I presume the Society can use the Trade Mark on the Beef Consumer site with their list of those who sell Dexter beef and then run an advertising campaign to bring the public's attention to the mark and the site - this will benefit members who do not have an internet presence as well.

[Broomcroft]

The rules of the scheme can be found on the Society's web site.

Where? I can't find it.

[Jac]

The rules of the scheme can be found on the Society's web site.

Where? I can't find it.

Very bottom of the 'News' page Clive.

[Broomcroft]

Got it thanks Jacqui.

Just a note that the http://www.dextercattle.co.uk Home Page doesn't work (on my computer/browser at least) I just get a short menu instead of a full web page, or is that how it's supposed to be?

Is there an image of the actual mark so we can see what it is?

[Rick]

Is this valid for Europe of is this just for UK labeling?

Thanks
Rick

[Jac]

Is this valid for Europe of is this just for UK labeling?

Thanks
Rick

This is European wide. I can see this being even more strictly enforced in this country with the current 'horsemeat burgers' scandal.