The organisation representing the British beef industry, the National Beef Association (NBA), has published its manifesto of lobbying priorities for the Labour Government.

As the voice of thousands of beef farmers, meat producers and 26 beef cattle breed societies, the NBA said it will continue to campaign for fair treatment in every aspect of Government policy that affects its membership.

At the top of its new manifesto, the NBA emphasises the crucial importance of maximising food production, as well as environmental benefits in Government support policy, and urges the Government to introduce a targeted level of increase in the new UK Food Security Index over the next parliament.

In a climate of cost and interest inflation, the NBA is calling for a review of pricing and fairness across the beef supply chain, and for financially crucial measures including offsetting retained females against capital allowances. The NBA will also campaign to ensure future trade deals that include beef are fair and transparent, and to exclude those countries with production and welfare standards below those of the UK.

“Our beef industry sets the gold standard around the world for the quality of our product and for the care and welfare of our livestock,” says NBA chief executive officer Neil Shand.

“The NBA’s essential goal is to protect and enhance the beef industry in this country for our producers and our consumers, and our manifesto is focused on the key areas of policy that the Government needs to address in order to secure the industry’s future.

“We also recognise that we are one sector in a closely interdependent agricultural industry that is adapting to profound changes in Government policy and economic conditions.