At the request of industry, the Red Tractor pigs sector board is seeking views on proposals to introduced tiered welfare standards and labelling for UK pigmeat.
The company believes that the proposed approach could reduce audit costs and complexities for producers, and simplify consumer choice.
Red Tractor is consulting on a modular approach to welfare standards for the pigs sector, similar to the tiered model introduced for the poultry sector in 2020.
The proposed system includes two new voluntary tiers, each with it’s own dedicated logo:
- Enhanced Welfare: Pork from outdoor-bred or outdoor-reared pigs finished indoors, with more space and a solid, bedded lying area.
- Free Range: Pork from pigs with continuous outdoor access.
According to Red Tractor, the consultation includes some adjustments to the existing standards, that are required to ensure the equivalence with other assurance schemes, that will deliver the reduced cost and complexity, and to ensure core standards reflect best practice.
Red Tractor’s pig technical advisory committee claims that many already operate at the proposed standards, and the consultation is designed to establish precise views.
It believes that expanding the use of these tiers from poultry to pork may provide a clear, trusted guide for shoppers, reassuring them that Red Tractor-certified pork meets a range of standards for welfare.
Red Tractor
Red Tractor chair, Stewart Houston believes animal welfare is “at the heart” of everything pig producers do.
He said: “The Red Tractor pigs sector board believes the proposed labelling system would provide a clearer, simpler way for our members to communicate and differentiate their welfare standards.
“It could also enhance consumers’ ability to make informed purchasing decisions by uniting existing tiers within the pork category under a suite of Red Tractor logos.”
“The development of the voluntary enhanced welfare and free range tiers for pork also demonstrates Red Tractor’s swift delivery against the Farm Assurance Review. The proposed system could remove the need for producers to juggle multiple assurance schemes, reducing audit burden and associated costs,” he added.
The consultation will run from April 28 to June 6, 2025, and is open to all pig producers, industry stakeholders and supply chain customers.
The board will review the feedback at it’s next meeting on June 25. Based on the feedback, it will decide whether to introduce the new modules.
