Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 6th January 2021
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Views sought for Red Tractor's 2021 standards review
The consultation puts forwards proposals on amendments to standards across sectors including beef and lamb, poultry, pigs and dairy.

Consultation on changes to farming standards launched

The UK's largest food standards scheme Red Tractor is seeking input from across the farming industry for a new consultation on ways to advance its farm standards.

The consultation, which opened on Monday (4 January), put forward proposals on amendments to standards across the scheme's six sectors; beef and lamb, poultry, pigs, dairy, fresh produce and combinable crops and sugar beet.

These proposed standards will come into effect in November 2021 and have been developed in collaboration with farming organisations, veterinary professionals, farmers and retailers over the past 12 months.

Red Tractor CEO Jim Moseley said: “These proposals strive to strike a delicate balance which protects and promotes our members, reassures consumers and customers, while acknowledges the implications of the challenges that the industry faces with future trade deals and the agricultural transition plan.”

Examples of these proposed changes include:

  • having animal welfare outcomes linked to standards and providing clear guidelines as to what is and isn't acceptable when handling animals
  • integrating worker welfare into the standards to ensure members are working to protect the safety and wellbeing of farm workers. This will help improve UK agriculture's health and safety record, as farming is currently identified as an at-risk sector for labour exploitation
  • more meaningful and accessible environmental protection standards adapted from Defra's Farming Rules for Water, which aim to reduce soil erosion and nutrient run-off.

In addition to the Standards Consultation, Red Tractor has also launched the What Matters To You Survey. This asks industry workers and representatives for their views on how Red Tractor can better understand their business and work with them more closely.

Further information, including a full list of proposed changes by sector and information on how to respond to the consultation can be found on the Red Tractor review hub.

The consultation and review closes on 5 March 2021.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.