Farming Information for Rural Ministry
(an Arthur Rank Centre project)
Briefing 226
Farm assurance schemes
Summary
Whilst assurance schemes are voluntary they have increasingly become required by buyers of farm
produce. So most farmers belong to at least one assurance scheme and most farm sectors have at least
85% of production assured. Most assurance schemes are run with Assured Farm Standards which is
responsible for the ‘Little Red Tractor’ logo. This briefing gives an overview of how the schemes work
and links to more information.
Introduction
Assurance schemes used by farmers include produce assurance, supermarket standards, other buyers’
standards and other management schemes. Most farms belong to at least one assurance scheme and
many belong to more than one. Larger farms (86%) are more likely to belong to schemes than smaller
farms (39%). Of the different types of farm upland cattle and sheep are least likely to belong to a
scheme (28%) and cereal farms most likely (81%). Schemes cover around 95% of milk production and
at least 85 % of the UK production of eggs, chicken, pig and combinable crops; and more than 65% of
beef & lamb and horticultural produce. (Information from Farm Practices Survey Defra, 2004.
http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/fps/fpsreport.pdf )
Assurance schemes are voluntary but they have become a requirement for entry to markets.
They aim to assure consumers that farmers and the rest of the food chain observe standards of good
practice. The costs of scheme membership and inspection to farmers and growers are generally
between £100 and £300 per annum. In the dairy sector the costs are borne by the milk buyers.
Inspections (assessments) are carried out every year to 18 months – sometimes depending on seasonal
influences.
In the UK, the main baseline assurance schemes have separate schemes for the arable, beef & sheep,
chicken, dairy, pig and horticulture sectors, with distinct national schemes in some sectors, (see links
below for more information). An exception is Genesis Quality Assurance), which adopts a modular
approach to provide whole farm assurance by including a basic module together with optional modules
for arable, dairy, beef & sheep, and pigs.
Assured Food Standards (AFS)
Most schemes are now either owned by Assured Food Standards (AFS) - the independent organisation
that manages “the Little Red Tractor” logo - or work in association with it. Owned by the food chain,
AFS represents the interests from each of the key links, including the National Farmers' Union, the
Ulster farmers' Union, the Meat & Livestock Commission, Dairy UK and the British Retail
Consortium. Observers include DEFRA and the Food & Drink Federation.
AFS sets the assurance standards that apply to commodity sectors and to different links in the food
chain. It manages the certification bodies that police the standards and at the point of packaging, it
defines the conditions for using the Red Tractor logo.
AFS is looking to develop a consistent set of standards for the schemes that qualify to use the Red
Tractor logo. It is also working to integrate inspections more between schemes and to promote
assurance along the food chain.
Other schemes
Examples like the Lion Eggs Scheme and Allied Industries Confederation (AIC) Feed Schemes and the
“higher-level” schemes do not fall under the AFS umbrella, though in many cases they are closely
linked. Baseline livestock schemes may, for example, require that members use feed that is assured
under the AIC scheme. Higher-level schemes, such as Freedom Foods and LEAF (which respectively
require observance of animal welfare and environmental standards) build on the foundations of
baseline schemes.
Organic certification schemes can also be regarded as a form of assurance, though they differ in the
sense that they have a legislative base. The basic standards are set out in the UK Compendium of
Organic Standards that comply with the standards established by EU Regulation; inspection and
certification is carried out by licensed Organic Inspection Bodies paid for by farmers.
The Little Red Tractor
The little red tractor logo offers consumers reassurance that food marked with the it
has been produced to independently inspected standards all the way down the chain
from producer to retailer. The logo has been re-designed and re-launched recently and
the new version is shown here.
http://www.redtractor.org.uk/site/rt_home.php
Red Tractor assurance schemes cover six sectors of agricultural production; pigs, cattle and sheep,
chickens, dairy, fruit, vegetables & salads, and harvestable crops like cereals, oilseeds and sugar. Brief
descriptions of each scheme are given below. More detail can be obtained by clicking on the links at
the end of this briefing.
Pigs
Pork, bacon and ham displaying the Red Tractor is produced to standards set out under the Assured
British Pigs scheme. Farmers must care for their animals by following the Five Freedoms welfare code
(freedom from hunger & thirst; discomfort; pain, injury or disease; fear or distress; freedom to express
normal patterns of behaviour).
Red Tractor pig farmers must also ensure that on-farm standards for housing, feed, animal health,
welfare and transportation are fully met. Specific programmes have been put in place to minimise
contamination from bacteria such as salmonella. And independent checks by trained inspectors are
carried out once a year with visits to farms, hauliers and pork processors.
Cattle and sheep
Meat carrying the Red Tractor logo is produced to standards set out under Assurance Schemes for Beef
and Sheep. Every step of the process is examined thoroughly, from feed supplies to animal housing,
health, grazing, the use of veterinary medicines, meat processing and waste. Farmers must also
demonstrate that they follow the Five Freedoms welfare code.
Trained independent inspectors check these standards. They make regular checks on all parts of the
beef and lamb supply chain, from farm through to abattoir. They're designed specifically to ensure that
animals are as clean and healthy as possible when they leave the farm to avoid contamination.
Chickens
Chicken bearing the Red Tractor mark is produced to standards set out under the Assured Chicken
Production (ACP) scheme. Fully trained inspectors make regular checks on farmers who must care for
their birds by following the Five Freedoms code and ensure that birds are properly housed, fed and in
good health. Comprehensive records of every flock are kept from the day that the birds arrive at the
farm. The standards include tight controls on salmonella: the levels of contamination in British poultry
meat have fallen dramatically since the scheme was introduced.
Dairy
Milk and Dairy products showing the Red Tractor logo are produced to standards set out under the
National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme (NDFAS). As well as caring for their animals by following the
Five Freedoms welfare code, farmers must pay particular attention to their herds’ health, housing, feed
and welfare. Animals must be well cared for and the milk must be produced in a safe and hygienic
environment. Inspectors visit dairy farms at least every 17 months to check that all these criteria are
met.
Fruit, vegetables and salads
Fruit, vegetables and salads bearing the Red Tractor must be grown according to a set of production
standards set out by the Assured Produce scheme.
As well as ensuring the careful and planned use of crop sprays to keep residues to a minimum at
harvest time, these standards also minimise other forms of contamination by providing clean irrigation
water and the strict control of field worker hygiene. Other aspects of the production process are also
covered, from planning which crops to grow, through to cultivation, plant health, harvesting, storage
and responsible management of pesticides and waste. Growers belonging to the Assured Produce
scheme will have their crops inspected once a year.
Harvestable Crops
Red Tractor wheat, barley, oats, rye, durum wheat, oilseed rape, linseed, peas, beans and sugar beet are
grown according to a set of production standards set out by the Assured Combinable Crops scheme.
These standards ensure the careful and planned use of crop sprays to keep residues to a minimum at
harvest time, as well as minimising the risk of water-course contamination from pesticides and
fertilisers.
Other aspects of the production process are also covered, from planting through to the harvesting,
hygiene and storage of combinable crops on the farm; plant health; transportation off the farm and
responsible management of pesticides and waste products. Inspection is carried out annually.
AFS SCHEMES
Assured Combinable Crops Scheme (ACCS)
Assured Produce (AP)
Assured Chicken Production (ACP)
Assured British Pigs (ABP)
National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme (NDFAS)
Assured British Meat (ABM)
OTHER SCHEMES
Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (FAWL)
Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIFQAS)
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)
Genesis Quality Assurance (GQA)
Soil Association Farm Assured (SAFA)
Alan Spedding, Tuesday, 03 May 2005
The aim of the FIRM project is to provide concise information about current farming and rural issues mainly to support those working
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