Meeting the requirements of the standards allows producers to prove that their husbandry and welfare on farm meet nationally agreed levels of best practice, and gives an assurance to the consumer that the product is safe.
SAI Global/FABBL is licensed to use the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Beef and Lamb Standards.
The Standards cover:
- Identification and traceability
- Farm animal management
- Environment and hygiene management
- Feed composition, storage and use
- Housing and handling facilities
- Medicines and veterinary treatments
- Transport of livestock
- Expansion of home-mixing standards for feed
- Herd/flock health plans
- Waste management plans.
Benefits
Enables producers to assure customers, retailers and consumers of the standard to which livestock is produced. It will help producers secure a market for the future as the Standards are designed to meet retailer requirements and are in accordance with all current codes of practice and legal requirements. Abattoirs and auction markets are increasingly requesting Farm Assured Beef and Lamb.
Accepted by Buyers
All major retailers and buyers accept and recognised the farm assurance standard.
Fees
Fees cover the cost of assessment and certification, administration, documentation and other membership products.
Who does the inspections?
SAI Global/FABBL has 80 farm assessors. They have built up a reputation for providing an efficient, professional service showing that they understand the needs of a busy farmer. The assessors have the relevant background and knowledge and are fully trained and supervised to ensure they carry out the assessment accurately.
Who does the certification?
SAI Global/FABBL certify all producers. This means upon receipt of an assessment report they are responsible for deciding whether a producer has achieved the relevant standard and a certificate can be issued.
SAI Global/FABBL employ fully trained and qualified certification managers and they follow guidelines to ensure consistent decisions. SAI Global/FABBL are accredited to EN45011 with UKAS. This demonstrates that we work to a high level of operational competency in all aspects of certification.
Identification to ConsumersFor more information about the Red Tractor logo visit the website by clicking
here.
Verification
It is vital that all buyers (e.g. abattoirs, auction markets, etc) are able to easily confirm that a producer has a valid certificate. Assured producers are issued with stickers which producers should use on paperwork (including cattle passports), accompanying every consignment of beef/lamb that are sold.
Downloads:
Useful publications:
Defra - Protecting our Water, Soil and Air (2009)
A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers:
http://www.Defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/landmanage/cogap/documents/cogap090202.pdf
Code of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock: Cattle (where relevant):
http://www.Defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/onfarm/documents/cattcode.pdf
Code of Recommendation for the Welfare of Livestock: Sheep (where relevant):
http://www.Defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/onfarm/documents/sheep.pdf
NaTCSO Leaflet: ‘Security of fertiliser storage on farms’:
http://www.nactso.gov.uk/documents/fertliser%20leaflet.pdf
Assured Food Standards Industry Code of Practice for On-farm Feeding:
http://www.redtractor.org.uk/site/REDT/Templates/GeneralStandards.aspx?pageid=40
Below are links to some relevant sites:
Assured British Meat (ABM)
National Farmers Union
DEFRA
National Beef Association
National Sheep Association
Livestock Auctioneers Association
Assured Food Standards (Red Tractor)
NOAH
DEFRA - Environmental (Go here for Air/Soil/Water Publications)
