Meat from semi-natural pastures - Grazing on semi-natural pastures - Lamb and mutton
Level: Spearhead
The management of semi-natural pastures is important to rich biological diversity and contributes, amongst other things, to the A Varied Agricultural Landscape and A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life environmental objectives. Contracting authorities that procure meat from semi-natural pastures contribute to the continued preservation of those pasture grounds, as well as an increased biological diversity.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10454:1
- Group:
- Grass-fed lamb
Criterion text
Lamb and mutton must be derived from animals that have had outdoor access and access to pasture throughout the whole day during the grazing season.
For at least half of the grazing period, animals must graze on semi-natural pastures—that is, natural grasslands that have not been fertilised (apart from the natural dung of the grazing animals), ploughed, watered or worked with machines for at least 20 years.
Verification
Upon request the supplier shall be ready to present, for example, one of the following:
- Certification that meets the requirement, e.g., IP Sigill lamm tillval naturbeteskött [IP Sigill lamb, meat from semi-natural pastures option].
Proposed follow-up
One method of follow-up is through spot checks of delivered products. The information provided by the supplier in its tender is then checked/examined, for example by:
- ensuring that information about certification according to IP Sigill lamm tillval naturbeteskött [IP Sigill lamb, meat from semi-natural pastures option] or other certification that meets the requirement is correct.
- ensuring that other documentation provided shows that the requirement is met.
Information about the criterion
Please observe that the market availability of certified products currently is very low for lamb and mutton meat. A market analysis should confirm that products are available before the criterion is used.
Environmental goals
Motive
Grass-fed livestock graze at least half of the pasturage period on semi-natural pastures and, during the winter period, are for the most part raised on roughage. Natural pasture livestock graze on land that is never ploughed or harvested. Semi-natural pasture is land that is continuously used for grazing over a long period of time (at least 20-30 years, but often hundreds of years). As a result of the grazing activity, this land has produced very species-rich flora and fauna. The grass that is mowed down by the animals allows insects and butterflies to thrive, which in turn creates excellent conditions for many birds, butterflies and pollinating insects.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10454:1
- Version date
- 2020-12-21
2020-12-21, RequirementID 10454:1: Changed level from core to spearhead due to changed criteria group from meat from semi-natural pastures. Text changed according to definition of semi-natural pastures from certification agent and production organization of pasture farming in sweden. Euqal definition an beef meat from semi-natural pastures but applied for lamb and mutton.