What is the Meat and Livestock Commission?

Established in 1967 by the Agriculture Act, the MLC:

• Works with the British meat and livestock industry (cattle, sheep and pigs) to improve its efficiency and competitive position.
• Maintains and stimulates consumer markets for British meat at home and abroad, while taking into account the needs of consumers.

The MLC is responsible to Parliament. Commission policy is directed by 11 Commissioners appointed by Agriculture Ministers and is implemented by professional staff headed by Acting Director General Kevin Roberts.

The three bodies recommending strategies for particular species are the British Pig Executive, the Cattle Strategy Council and the Sheep Strategy Council comprising industry nominees representing levy payers’ interests.

A wide variety of work – all aimed at keeping red meat at the centre of any meal – is undertaken by the Commission, financed by a levy on every animal slaughtered or exported live. Revenue is topped-up with earnings from the MLC’s own commercial services as well as with co-funding from commercial and other bodies for research projects and other activities.

MLC’s prime task is to meet the needs of today’s consumer by ensuring British meat is competitive with all other foodstuffs in terms of price, variety, convenience, taste, appearance and versatility.

With its Headquarters in Milton Keynes, the work of the Commission is also supported from its Welsh office in Aberystwyth and other offices in Harrogate, Huntingdon, Sparsholt and Taunton together with the Quality Meat Scotland office in Edinburgh. There are also offices in Brussels and Paris and agents in several other European countries.

The MLC works with all sectors of the industry, government and EU legislation widely consulting and disseminating information.