Farmers Union Responds To Red Tractor Consultation

Call for standards to be outcome focussed, recognise diverse nature of farming across the UK and avoid additional bureaucracy

With more than 8500 farmers, growers and crofters across Scotland making up its membership, NFU Scotland has welcomed the opportunity to input into the significant review undertaken on Red Tractor Assured Food Standards (AFS).

As part of its submission, it consulted widely with its members across all sectors as the outcomes of this process could have significant ramifications for some, in particular the dairy sector, where the current supply chain dictates that without Red Tractor approval a primary producer will not have a buyer for his milk.

The Union responded to proposed changes that will affect all sectors that use Red Tractor, as well as responding individually to separate proposals affecting dairy, lamb, pigs, poultry, combinable crops and fresh produce.

A large turnout of members also attended a recent NFU Scotland webinar on the Red Tractor consultation, chaired by Vice President Andrew Connon with the Scottish dairy, soft fruit, vegetable, sheep, combinable crops, pigs, poultry and potato sectors all represented.

Commenting on the Union’s extensive response, Andrew said: “NFU Scotland recognises that robust farm assurance schemes are vital to the sector’s future. The expectations for UK farming standards on food safety, animal welfare, environment and the provenance of foods are rising amongst consumers and it is important that all sectors protect their investment in the Red Tractor scheme by ensuring its credibility.

“However, there is frustration that standards need to deliver meaningful outcomes and not create unnecessary and burdensome paperwork. There is concern that many of the new and some existing standards create a requirement for records and bureaucracy rather than looking at outcomes or delivery of the principles.

“We also have a concern that the scheme does not always distinguish between sector standards and legal requirements.  The duplication of legal minimums is unnecessary and has potential to cause confusion or accidental non-compliance with regulation, a point we stressed in our feedback.

“Red Tractor is making efforts to ensure that there is consistency across assessors and an approach to ensure both farmer and assessor are clear on how the standards should be enforced. There needs to be an emphasis on this going forward to ensure the integrity of the scheme and strengthen the relationship between Red Tractor and the primary producer.

“Scottish agriculture is diverse in its make up with farmers, growers and crofters – big and small – all having a critical role to play in the supply chain.  That means quality of land, weather, devolved legislation, access with regards to location, staff availability, route to market and other often over-looked issues can add challenges to the Scottish primary producer.

“Agriculture across the UK is also diverse and, while standards need to be consistent to be credible, they also need to reflect sectoral, regional and devolved differences – in terms of agricultural profile and environmental compliance requirements.

“NFU Scotland would stress that these nuances should be considered by Red Tractor when considering the significant volume of feedback it has received to its proposals from across the UK.

“Red Tractor stakeholder requirements state that famers require “manageable standards and a positive impact on their returns”.  NFU Scotland would urge that this is at the forefront of Red Tractor’s objectives.”