These were introduced by the food industry in the 1980’s, following society’s increasing concern for animal welfare. Food assurance schemes are there, to help to provide customers and businesses with guarantees that the meat, eggs and dairy products, have been produced to particular standards. Most animals in the UK are reared in accordance with the standards of farm assurance schemes. They all claim to ensure high standards, yet vary greatly in how animals are kept and cared for. Various undercover investigations have revealed appalling conditions. It’s not possible to monitor farms all the time.
The ‘Five Freedoms’ developed by the FAWC is used as a framework for animal welfare, legislation and assurance scheme standards. There are minimum EU standards which have to be met, but above that certifying bodies can develop their own criteria. Some are set above the basic welfare levels. M&S and Waitrose have their own standards.
85% of UK eggs are produced to the British Lion Quality Standard developed by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) and focuses on food safety (permits the use of ‘enriched cages’). The Red Tractor Assurance is the largest food scheme in UK, and according to their organisation, means ‘the food concerned met responsible production standards’ but according to CIWF, both of these logos simply represent minimum legal standards, and don’t prevent serious welfare issues. So it is not clear cut.
The flag in the Red Tractor logo, tells you where the food has been farmed, processed and packed. All British produce at Sainsbury’s adhere to the Red Tractor standards but doesn’t use the certification. If there is an RSPCA Assured label on the food, it has been assessed by the RSPCA’s ethical food label for animal welfare. The British Lion, RSPCA or Red Tractor Assured food standard logos will be shown on the product. Some foods will display two logos, RSPCA Assured and Red Tractor to cover a broader spectrum.
The largest and best known organic certifier in the UK is the Soil Association (SA) standard. They claim to have the highest organic standards in the world, and are one of the few schemes which sets standards above the EU organic standard. They certify 50-60% of UK’s organic farms. The UK’s second largest organic certifier is Organic Farmer and Growers (OF&G). Many members of OF&G will also be Red Tractor certified. The strictest standards for organic egg production are those of the SA, but they only certify a small percentage of UK eggs. Most UK’s organic eggs are certified by OF&G. Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) is Scotland’s largest organic certification body and in 2015 entered into partnership with OF&G.
CIWF found standards currently set by the main British farm assurance schemes, compared poorly to those set by the Soil Association organic standard. They insist that high standards can’t be assured, when farrowing crates for pigs are allowed, highly intensive methods of rearing broiler chickens, chicken and pig breeding which involves restrictive feeding practices where animals are constantly hungry, mutilations such as beak-trimming, tail docking, and teeth clipping which are generally not prohibited, and the use of genetically reared animals and so on. (See CIWF re-farm assurance schemes 2012).
AN EXAMPLE OF A CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PIGS:
The Soil Association Organic Standard…( 5-stars)
- Pigs to be kept free range for at least 80% of their lives
- Sow stalls and farrowing crates prohibited
- Castration prohibited
- Greater space allowance than UK production (specified by weight)
- Bedding material provided
- Teeth clipping and grinding prohibited
- Routine tail docking prohibited.
Free-range Standard…see earlier under pig welfare…(4-stars)
Outdoor Bred and Reared…see earlier under pig welfare…(3-stars)
RSPCA Assured Standard…(2-stars)
- Sow stalls and farrowing crates prohibited
- Castration prohibited
- Greater space allowance than UK production standards (specified by weight)
- Bedding material provided
- Teeth clipping and grinding prohibited
- Routine tail docking prohibited
Critics say RSPCA Assured have some good welfare standards, but it doesn’t include free-range. It insists on straw bedding and limits on journey times to market/abattoir.
Red Tractor Standard…(1-star)
- Castration prohibited
UK Production standards which complies with minimal legislation and government guidelines. 80% of British Pork Farms are under this label, and although the scheme includes farms using a wide range of production methods, this label is not a guarantee of good animal welfare and approves intensive production. It allows farrowing crates, pigs are often indoors on bare concrete with no straw, teeth clipping and tail docking is widespread and routine antibiotics are given on some farms. The Little Red Tractor is certified under Farm Assured British (FAB) Pigs scheme and owned by the National Farmers Union (NFU).
No Welfare Label…(0-stars)
Christians Caring For Gods Creatures 