Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Farm assurance

NPA highlights need to reduce number of farm inspections to UK farm assurance review commissioners

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverSeptember 24, 20245 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson has set out the pig industry’s priorities for changes to how farm assurance should operate in the UK to the commissioners carrying out the review. 

Visit SiteShe told then the number one priority for British pig producers is to reduce the number of inspections that take place on farms, including better use of earned recognition, while there is also a need to improve the consistency of inspections and to streamline the process, with better use of technology.

Mrs Wilson met with the review commissioners last Wednesday, the day after the NPA’s latest Pig Industry Group (PIG) meeting in London, where the UK assurance review was discussed.

Pig producers from across the country acknowledged the importance of farm assurance, but highlighted their frustration at how the volume of inspections, particularly the retail audits, has got out of hand.

NPA chairman Rob Mutimer said: “I see real benefit to our business from Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured. However, when we were first assured, we were only inspected by Red Tractor, but now its Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured and two retailers.

The NPA’s Pig Industry Group met in London in mid-September

“There are questions about whether we, as a sector, can continue like this. I believe we have seen as many independent pig farmers leave this industry because they can’t cope with bureaucracy as we have done due to financial issues.”

He suggested there was plenty of scope for Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured to work more closely together on common areas to ease the burden and called for better use of ‘earned recognition’.

“On our butchery business, we are assured by the Food Standards Agency. We are graded and if you get a high score, you can reduce the number of audits and paperwork over the next year.

“If there is one audit a year, regardless of whether you are good, bad or indifferent, it can become a box-ticking exercise. But if you don’t want to see the auditor for two years, you make a big effort to make sure your systems are right – and that can drive better standards.”

Frustration

His points were echoed by other producers on PIG. One said: “The thing that really frustrates me is that we have Red Tractor and then we get inspected by three retailers. What is the point in all of them? Surely, there could some be more joined-up thinking where Red Tractor can cover more of that off?”

Another added: “The big aggravation for me is the supermarkets inspections at different times, often time without a pattern, and looking for other things. If there was a way around doing that, it would be beneficial, but how you could do it, I don’t know.”

A processor representative said better use needed to be made of technology to streamline the inspection process and paperwork in the main assurance schemes, a point backed up by producers across the group.

Streamline inspections

Lizzie fed all of this into her meeting with the commissioners. “I highlighted the strong desire from within the pig sector to streamline the number of inspections because of the huge burden this places on farms and the need to make the audits more efficient, so they focus more on the animals rather than the paperwork” she said.

She pointed out that initial discussions have taken place between Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured about working together more closely on common areas to reduce the audit burden.

“I also stressed PIG’s point about the need to make more use of earned recognition. I gave EPR permitting inspections as a good example within our sector – if your business is compliant with permitting requirements, the audit can be delivered by Red Tractor as part of their annual inspection instead of two separate inspections,” she said.

“And we need a consistent standard of audit with trained specialist pig auditors. There are a number of good assessors, but the number of visits they can make is constrained by biosecurity requirements on farms.”

Lizzie also pointed that, particularly in light of recent events, assurance should be independent and not tied to larger organisations with potentially conflicting agendas. “The core purpose of farm assurance schemes must be to provide assurance, which will engender trust – to consumers, the supply chain, and farmers – say what you do, do what you say and prove it. Trust is fundamental.”

She also stressed the importance of pastoral support being provided to scheme members when alleged non-compliances are being investigated, highlighting a ‘culture of guilty until proved innocent’ that can exist. This is, of course, must be balanced against the need to maintain the credibility of the scheme in the public eye.

UK farm assurance review

The UK farm assurance review was established in the wake of Red Tractor’s attempts to introduce a Greener Farms Commitment (GFC), with a remit to look at the suitability of assurance schemes of all types across the UK in the post-Brexit world.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAssociation of Independent Meat Suppliers appoints new executive director
Next Article British pork and lamb targets Americas market at Miami event
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: A commitment to welfare excellence

September 3, 2025
Latest News

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: A commitment to welfare excellence

September 3, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1771 Australia

    • Queensland, Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.