LONDON, Jan. 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

New regulations mandating classification and price reporting for sheep carcasesin Englandcome into force this week (Monday 12 January), bringing the sector in line with beef and pork and ensuring farmers are paidmorefairly for their livestockat slaughter.

The government has brought in the rules following extensive consultation with industry toestablisha consistent and transparent system, giving producers clear information on how animals are assessed and priced at slaughter.

By standardising classification, farmers can respond more effectively to market demand and better understand the characteristics that attract premium prices.Fairness within the agricultural supply chain is a key priority for the government and integral to food security.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eaglesaid:

British lamb is rightly recognised worldwide for its exceptionalflavourand production standards-andsupply chain fairness is vital to ensure farmers and processors areproperly rewarded for thequalityfood they produce.

By ensuringafair and transparentsheep market,we'rebacking British producers, strengthening our foodsecurityand supporting a resilient future forthe sector.

Phil Stocker, CEO of the National Sheep Association, said:

I welcome the introduction of this new regulation on which Defra has worked closely with industry.It'sa helpful step to simplify and give more clarity to sheep farmers over deadweight price comparisons between processors.

It also means that for all but the smallest abattoirs we will now see sheep carcass grading come under the control of the RPA, bringing us in line with cattle grading.

Both these improvements further ambitions to create better transparency and trust through the supply chain. Farmers selling live through martswon'tbe directly affected and we are in a better place with choices and greater transparency in how we choose to sell our lambs.

Similar regulations for Scottish slaughterhouses also take effect this week, with Wales and Northern Ireland to introduce equivalent measures in early 2026, creating a consistent UK-wideframework.

The new rulescomplementthe government'swider work to protect farmers in trade deals, strengthen supply chain resilience, lower costs for consumers, and deliver a thriving, innovative food sector through the Good Food Cycle.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.