“For too long, beef has been marketed through labels rather than proven through facts.”
Ekkehard Knobelspies
The Beef Advocate
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Global Meat Standard
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The Global Certified Meat Programme was created to establish an international reference standard for responsible, transparent and high-quality beef programmes in steak restaurants.
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It recognises restaurants that do not simply serve exceptional beef, but can demonstrably take responsibility - towards the animal, the producer, the environment and the guest.
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The certification is deliberately positioned as a counterpoint to the inflationary use of origin and breed labels that are often presented without verifiable substance.
CERTIFICATION LEVELS
The Global Meat Standard is an independently published certification designed to recognise steak restaurants that combine exceptional meat quality with verified sourcing, responsible cattle farming and transparent supply chains.
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It is not a marketing label
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It is not a sustainability slogan
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It is a documented standard
Certified restaurants are assessed across clearly defined criteria, including:
• Provenance and traceability
• Animal welfare and husbandry
• Feeding and farming practices
• Slaughter and processing
• Ageing and butchery
• Menu transparency and communication
The certification exists to create trust - for chefs and restaurateurs, for guests and for the future of steak gastronomy.
CERTIFIED Level
Restaurants that meet all mandatory criteria receive the Certified Beef Programme designation.
SILVER Level
Reserved for global reference restaurants that actively shape standards, influence producers and set benchmarks internationally.
GOLD Level
Awarded to restaurants demonstrating advanced sourcing transparency, long-term producer relationships and leadership within their regional steak culture.
CERTIFICATION FEE
To preserve credibility and independence, certification is subject to a fee structure to cover the cost of assessment and ongoing governance. Payment of the fee does not guarantee certification and has no influence on the outcome - all decisions are evidence-based.
Initial Certification
GBP 4,500 – 7,500
* depending on programme complexity, sourcing
depth and geographic scope
Includes
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Full assessment
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Certification decision
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Use of the certification seal
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Listing in the Global Certified Beef
Programme Registry
Annual Renewal & Licence
GBP 2,000 – 3,500 per year
Includes
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Annual review
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Continued use of the certification seal
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Ongoing listing and recognition
Payment of the certification fee covers assessment and ongoing programme governance only and does not guarantee certification or influence the outcome, which is determined solely on the basis of verified evidence.
CERTIFICATION
How it works
The Beef Advocate operates independently from World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants.
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The certification assesses the Meat Programme itself through documented evidence and audit.
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From 2026 onwards, the Certified Meat Programme will form one of the official evaluation criteria within the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants ranking.
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This ensures that responsible sourcing and transparency are not optional values, but recognised components of excellence.
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Certification does not guarantee ranking placement.
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But leadership in beef integrity will increasingly matter.
Independence
The Beef Advocate is published by Ekkehard Knobelspies as an independent personal authority.
The initiative is supported by an Advisory Council of internationally recognised experts, including:
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Agricultural and animal welfare specialists
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Supply chain and sustainability experts
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Technical advisors in premium beef and Wagyu
Certification decisions are based on documented criteria and assessment processes.
World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants does not influence certification outcomes.
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Step-by-step
Step 1 - Application
Submission of sourcing, ageing and menu documentation
Step 2 - Assessment
Review of provenance, animal welfare, feeding, slaughter, ageing and transparency
Step 3 - Decision
Certification level awarded
Certified | Gold | Platinum
or application declined
Step 4 - Annual Review
Certification is reviewed annually to ensure continued compliance