Red Tractor consulting on changes to standards

UK farmers could soon be tasked with keeping a tally of all antibiotics used on farm every year.

Farm assurance body Red Tractor is consulting on a number of changes to its standards.

Included in the proposals are the requirement for all dairy, beef, sheep and pig producers to record and provide information on the total amount of antibiotics used on farm.

Although Scottish combinable crops, pigs, beef and lamb producers have their farm assurance covered by Quality Meat Scotland and Scottish Quality Crops, the farm assurance for many fresh produce, dairy and poultry producers falls under the remit of Red Tractor.

Other proposals put forward by the assurance body include a requirement for the member of staff responsible for medicine administration on a dairy farm to be formally trained, and a ban on the removal of piglets under the age of 21 days from a sow.

There are also proposed changes to biosecurity, vermin control and environmental protection.

The chief executive of Assured Food Standards, which runs Red Tractor, David Clarke, said: “The Red Tractor logo is recognised by consumers as a guarantee that the food they are buying is safe, traceable and produced to good standards of animal welfare with minimal impact on the environment.”

He said the needs of UK farming’s customers continually evolved and it was vital industry worked hard to “stay ahead of the game”.

Red Tractor standards are reviewed every three years by technical advisory committees, which are made up of industry experts including farmers, trade associations, vets, processors and retailers.

The consultation is open until the end of the year and responses are invited through farming organisation.