The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain (MAGB), founded in 1827, is the foremost trade association representing the UK malting industry. With a longstanding history spanning nearly two centuries, it currently represents over 98% of UK malt production, with eleven member companies producing approximately 1.6 million tonnes of malt annually from around 2 million tonnes of malting barley. The membership includes two types of maltsters: Distiller Maltsters, operating maltings owned by distilling companies, and Sales Maltsters, who produce malt tailored for brewing, distilling, and food industries.
MAGB’s role is multifaceted, focusing on supporting and promoting the UK malting sector, which is crucial to the brewing and distilling industries. The association ensures industry requirements are met through an organized structure under the leadership of an elected chairman. It also functions as a lobbying entity to represent the interests of its members at national and EU levels.
In its EU lobbying activities, MAGB is registered in the EU Transparency Register, which reflects its engagement with EU institutions to influence policies affecting the malting and broader agribusiness sector. As agribusiness is a heavily engaged lobby group within the EU, MAGB’s presence helps ensure that the specific interests of malting in the UK are considered in EU regulatory frameworks, trade agreements, and agricultural policies. Given the complexity of EU policymaking and post-Brexit access challenges, MAGB likely cooperates with EU-level associations and other networks to maintain influence in Brussels. Their lobbying typically involves providing expertise, policy information, and advocating positions that support the sustainability and competitiveness of UK malting within the EU market.
MAGB also monitors a host of EU regulatory developments, including agricultural trade rules and environmental standards, which might impact the malting industry. The association’s engagement ensures that changes in EU pesticide regulation, barley production subsidies, and related food safety rules are balanced against the interests of its members. Lobbying efforts often focus on technical and trade-related topics where maltsters’ specialized input is vital for effective policy outcomes. Given its trade association status and extensive history, MAGB presents itself not only as an industry advocate but also as a knowledge hub for the malting community in Great Britain.
