Red Tractor has confirmed that it will progress with plans to introduce two new tiers, based on outdoor systems, by the end of the year.
The assurance scheme’s recent consultation on tiered welfare standards for pigs received feedback from 122 individuals from across the supply chain, including producers responsible for over 200,000 sows.
Red Tractor’s pigs sector board held a lengthy discussion on the responses at its latest meeting. Based on the feedback from the consultation, it was agreed that Red Tractor should progress work on making modules for farmers operating outdoor-bred systems, including straw-based and free-range finishing, available by the end of the year.
“We have agreed in principle that we are going to proceed, but this will be subject to further work on proposed labelling and transition arrangements to maximise the benefits for the whole supply chain, particularly farmers,” pig sector chair Stewart Houston said.
Red Tractor’s six-week consultation included the proposed introduction of an Enhanced Welfare standard, based on outdoor-bred or outdoor-reared pigs finished indoors, with more space and a solid, bedded lying area, and a Free-Range tier for pigs with continuous outdoor access.
The introduction of outdoor-based tiers – the title of which are still under discussion – would put Red Tractor in direct competition with the well-established RSPCA Assured scheme. Mr Houston said there was already interest in these additional tiers from key players across the supply chain.
He said one of the biggest asks that came out of the recent review of UK farm assurance was for a reduction in the duplication of audits.
“This is one of the ways we can achieve that, while also giving outdoor producers another option for how they assure their pigs,” he said. “But there is still a lot of background work to be completed, including with UKAS, to introduce the new modules.”
Farrowing systems
The consultation also sought views on a possible new ‘Certified Standards Plus’ tier for indoor production, with flexible farrowing as the key criteria, at some point in the future.
There was consensus amongst the pigs board that Red Tractor should support producers to meet potential future changes in legislation relating to the transition away from conventional farrowing systems.
However, Mr Houston said more time is needed to reflect on the feedback from the consultation before determining the most appropriate way to do this.
The Pigs Board thanked everyone who provided input into the consultation, which Mr Houston said will help inform future standards. A summary of the consultation response will be published in due course.
Core standards
The consultation also proposed some adjustments to Red Tractor’s existing standards, which it said were designed to align Red Tractor with other schemes and reduce the audit burden on farms.
Most proposals received good support in the consultation responses. Thanks to helpful feedback, some proposed standards have been clarified or adjusted to ensure they are practical and clear, the assurance scheme said.