Benefits to Members
In the UK, farmers produce food to a high standard. Being a Red Tractor Assurance Beef & Lamb farmer is a way of demonstrating those high standards to commercial buyers and consumers. It offers the following benefits:
1. Wider Market Access
- Preferential prices – EBLEX analysis (March 2010) concluded that on average, assured finished cattle and lambs receive preferential prices in English auction markets
- Increased market opportunities – being assured expands the number of outlets in which animals can be marketed
- Demand for assured products is growing as food service and public procurement contracts specify Red Tractor Assurance and small and medium sized abattoirs supplying this market now embrace assurance
2. Legal Compliance
- Adherence to legislation – with assurance standards set at or above legal minimum requirements, the assessment will act as a check that producers are indeed adhering to relevant legal requirements including many aspects of cross compliance
- Due diligence - being assured aids compliance with the Food Safety Act for producers and their buyers
- Reduced statutory inspections - for some Local Authority and other statutory inspections, assured farmers are considered lower risk.
3. Red Tractor Quality Mark
Products from assured farms are eligible for marketing with the Red Tractor Quality mark at the consumer point-of-sale, demonstrating they have been produced to high standards.
4. Industry Representation
Red Tractor Assurance represents its members to:
- DEFRA
- Food Standards Agency (FSA)
- Local Authorities
- Trade Associations
- Other Independent bodies, e.g. retailers, consumer groups and welfare organisations
5. Scheme Support
The Scheme provides the following for Farm members:
- A Scheme Manual summarising the scheme operational rules, the Standards themselves with detailed guidance and explanation including Appendices that with further required and useful information and record examples and templates (available on this website click here).
- A Quick Guide (published December 2010), which provides a summary of the rules and procedures and Scheme standards can be used as a checklist before an assessment (available on this website click here).
- Templates additional blank versions of all of the record templates in the manuals are available for download (available on this website click here).
- Access to all required and useful publications in electronic format (which is acceptable for the standards) (available on this website click here).
6. Industry Information
Members receive:
- Twice yearly newsletter
- Useful information from and links to other organisations
- Helpful relevant technical information on the website
7. Red Tractor Assurance Checkers and Services
Members can access the Red Tractor Assurance Checker and Services to verify the Assurance status of any stock purchased and do online self-assessment checks.