Sheep Carcase Classification Rules Take Effect
New Sheep Carcase Classification Rules Come Into Force
New regulations mandating classification and price reporting for sheep carcases came into effect on Monday 12 January 2026. This brings the sheep sector in line with existing rules for beef and pork.
The measures, introduced by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs via UK Government, follow extensive consultation with industry and are designed to create a consistent and transparent grading system. Producers will now receive clearer information on how sheep are assessed at slaughter and how prices are determined.
Equivalent regulations for Scottish slaughterhouses also took effect this week, while Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to introduce matching measures in early 2026. The government says the reforms will strengthen confidence in pricing, improve comparability across plants, and support fairer outcomes for producers.
The changes form part of a broader push to improve supply-chain transparency across the red meat sector.
Source: GOV.UK / Defra | 13 January 2026
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