This paper reports an ex ante evaluation of a proposed carcase description scheme for the Australian pig industry. Potential benefits and costs of the scheme are described and enumerated, and most likely estimates evaluated by benefit-cost analysis. The results indicate that the proposed scheme would generate net discounted efficiency benefits of almost $50m. A sensitivity analysis of important assumptions and parameter values is conducted, and in all cases NPV remains positive. The conclusion is that the ex ante pricing and operational efficiency benefits of the implementation of the scheme would outweigh the costs of achieving them.