In May 2002 The Institute & Guild of Brewing (IGB) handed over the administration duties of the Institute of Brewing (IOB) Malting Barley Committee to MAGB. From that date the MAGB has carried out all administrative duties associated with IOB Malting Barley Committee new variety evaluation work, and publicity of the Recomended List for malting barley.

The Institute and Guild of Brewing has more recently it has changed its name once more to become the IBD (Institute of Brewing and Distilling), in recognition of the number of members who are involved in the distilling industry.

From June 2006 the IOB Malting Barley Committee was renamed the IBD Malting Barley Committee, which correctly reflects its long interest in malting barley requirements for brewing and distilling .

An overview of the IBD evaluation process for new malting varieties and a list of MBC & Working Party members is shown below.

Members of the Malting Barley Committee

The MAGB (IBD) System (from National List (NL1) to Full Approval)

F8

NL1 (National List 1)

Up until NL1 a varieties progression has been solely up to the breeder.

At NL1 varieties are taken over by CEL and NIAB for official trials and enter the IBD system. CEL and NIAB assess all varieties for yield, disease resistance and agronomic characteristics. The Scottish Micromalting Group (SMMG) and NIAB conduct the first Micromalting trials. Varieties showing promise progress to NL2.

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NL2 (National List 2)

Varieties progressing from NL1 under go further Micromalting trials carried out by NIAB, SMMG and The English Micromalting Group (EMMG). All NL1 and NL2 trial data is pooled and assessed by the breeders, NIAB, Crop Evaluation Limited (CEL), the SMMG and EMMG. Recommendations of the EMMG and SMMG are taken to the English and Scottish working parties of the Malting Barley Committee who decide which varieties have commercial potential. Successful varieties progress into recommended list trials.

F10

RL1 / Scottish Variety Trials (SVT)

Varieties progressing from NL2 in England undergo micro-malting trials carried out by NIAB and the English micro-malting group and in Scotland by the Scottish micro-malting group. Pilot Malting and Brewing trials are also carried out at Brewing Research International (BRi). Data on all varieties is collated and scrutinized by the respective micro-malting groups. Recommendations on varieties with malting potential are made to the English and Scottish working parties that in turn make decisions on which varieties remain on the list. These decisions are then taken to the Malting Barley Committee which effectively "rubber stamps" them and deals with any subsequent appeals. Successful varieties progress to Provisional Approval 1.

Varieties entering the UK system via the EU Common Catalogue will be eligible for Provisional Approval once the Working Parties are satisfied that sufficient comparable data on UK grown barley is available, and that the micro-malting or commercial performance demonstrates useful quality.

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RL2 Provisional Approval (1)

Candidates for Full Approval will normally have been awarded Provisional Approval 1 based on micro-malting results. To gain Full Approval, the Malting Barley Committee must have evidence of satisfactory pilot scale and commercial performance in the maltings/brewery/distillery.

For Full Approval in the UK

1 pilot malting and brewing trial (BRi)

2 commercial malting and brewing trials (if lauter tun trial undertaken)

or

2 commercial malting and 3 brewing trials (if mash filter trial undertaken)

2 commercial malting and distilling trials

For Full Approval in brewing

1 pilot malting and brewing trial (BRi)

2 commercial malting and brewing trials (if lauter tun trial undertaken)

or

2 commercial malting and 3 brewing trials (if mash filter trial undertaken)

For Full Approval in distilling

2 commercial malting and distilling trials

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Provisional Approval (2)

A variety should normally progress to Full Approval with one year of commercial trials. Where there have been insufficient satisfactory malting, brewing or distilling trials to award Full Approval in one year of commercial trials, the Malting Barley Committee may award Provisional Approval 2 to denote that a variety has not been rejected and is still progressing through the approval process.

A variety should progress to Full Approval within two years of commercial trials. Any variety failing to gain Full Approval within two years will be removed from the List.

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Full Approval

In commercial use.

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