National Pig Association THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets and caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry.

The first survey gets underway in three days. Some 300 surveyors will cover several hundred stores the length and breadth of England and Wales.

Data will be collected by producer/allied industry volunteers, Ladies in Pigs, and a professional marketing consultancy.

The information collected will be professionally collated and released to the media. The aim is to show consumers which retailers are genuinely supporting British pork and pork products.

Our surveyors will check for the Quality Standard Mark on pork leg and shoulder joints, chops and steaks; bacon gammon, hock and shoulder joints and middle, back and streaky rashers; and sliced ham.

NPA's PorkWatch Group will be chaired by Richard Lister and meets for the first time on March 15 at Shaftesbury Avenue.

The aim of PorkWatch is to show consumers where they can best buy British pork. It will encourage supermarkets to stock more quality assured British pork, which is produced to higher welfare and whole chain assurance standards than most imported pork, much of which is produced in conditions that would be illegal in Britain.

Source: National Pig Association - Digby Scott - 1st March 2004