ASSURANCE OF MEAT PRODUCTION, DUE TO MARK ET REQUIREMENTS

If meat production shall be based on market requirements, the interest s of all market partners have to be considered. In addition to traits of carcass and meat quality, characteristics of the production process are critically evaluated by the consumer. This requires an accurate d escription of all production procedures in the various steps. This ''t ransperancy'' is an essential part of each quality assurance program w here all vertical steps are closly connected by contracts. These ''int egrated quality assurance programs'' are mainly of internal importance within the production system; it improves the efficiency by avoiding or minimizing faults. An additional certification of such systems is o f great importance for contracts, pricing and marketing. The large num ber of quality programs are predominantly regionally organized. For ea se of comparison general production rules have been astablished. Progr ams which meet these requirements may receive a special label to confi rm their high standard, as for example by the ''CMA-Prufsiegel''. Long term quality assurance programs will help to improve the general qual ity standard and can stabilize marketing.