Why does it matter?

Red Tractor was set up by the NFU and others in 2000 to restore consumer confidence in British food.

Our core purpose then is the same as it is now, to reassure UK shoppers that British food and drink is safe and responsibly produced.

Twenty years on, Red Tractor has become the most trusted assurance scheme in the country, and buying British is now the number one choice for most consumers. At the heart of this transformation in the public’s attitude to British food is compliance with our standards.

Why do we demand that every standard is met every day?

Our standards are the very core of our business. We have measures in place to ensure that every single one is met every day. That’s how we protect the integrity of our members and the industry.

The fact is, poor compliance undermines businesses, damages the industry, increases costs and worsens financial performance.

How does being compliant benefit me?

Red Tractor members who comply with our standards will reap a range of rewards and benefits including:

• Access to some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets
• Widespread recognition that your products have been made to the highest standards
• The chance to maximise your returns and reduce the risks of things going wrong
• Keeps your business in good health and makes sure you meet legal requirements
• One assurance accreditation, one fee, one inspection

Put simply, being Red Tractor Assured protects your livelihood, boosts your reputation and safeguards your business. It even saves you money. And the more you put into your membership, the more you’ll get from it. We provide the standards our farmer members need to succeed.

Our standards are the very core of our business. We have measures in place to ensure that every single one is met every day. That’s how we protect the integrity of our members and the industry. The fact is, poor compliance undermines businesses, damages the industry, increases costs and worsens financial performance.   

We know a few of our members need extra support to stay on track. In these cases, we take a risk-based approach to inspections, including unannounced spot check visits. We have found this is the best way to bring these members up to the required standards.  

What if a member isn’t fully compliant?

If an audited farm or processor fails on a non-critical issue like misplacing training documentation this is considered a minor non-conformance. The member has 28 days to address the issue and prove they have taken steps to be fully compliant. If they do so, their certification won’t be suspended. 

When is a member suspended or withdrawn from the scheme?

Non-conformance Suspension 

If a minor non-conformance is not corrected within 28 days, we can suspend certification. If an assessment finds a serious non-compliance, such as a food safety issue, the suspension is immediate until it has been fixed. During this time, the farmer cannot sell any livestock or products as Red Tractor assured. 

Non-conformance withdrawal 

The suspension will last up to 3 months. If a member fails to show that they are now fully compliant, their scheme membership will be terminated.  

Alongside routine inspections, we can suspend or withdraw certification if non-compliance issues raised by a third party can be fully substantiated. 

Click here to see our quarterly compliance reports.

Tell US

If you see any issues around compliance to our standards or the law, call us on 0203 617 3670.  Being open makes it easier for us to assess the issue and gather evidence for our investigation.  Each of us has a part to play in protecting the integrity of Britain’s food and agriculture supply chain. 

We do know that occasionally, standards can slip on farms, or at packing and processing facilities. It’s important we hear about it. That way, any non-compliance, whether serious or not, can be fixed and corrective measures put in place.   

We already gather intelligence from various sources including certification bodies, vets, the public, stakeholders, members and licensees. We also partner with other reporting authorities to help assess any issues and get the information we need to thoroughly investigate a matter.  

If you think our standards or the law is being broken, or you have a genuine concern around wrongdoing, we have an independent and confidential TELL Us web reporting service. Managed by Safecall, it allows you to file an anonymous report online at any time.  

All reports we receive through this platform will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.  

By working together, we can help protect the reputation of this industry at a critical point in time. 

Click here to submit a report using the TELL US reporting service or go to www.safecall.co.uk/en/clients/red-tractor/ 

Click here to download a handy poster for display in public areas of your business.

We can only investigate non-compliance issues relating to Red Tractor standards and membership.

What happens after a complaint is logged with TELL US?

Once a complaint is received, Safecall compiles a report of the allegation, and passes it onto Red Tractor.  

Through Safecall, you will receive a unique code which will allow you to monitor the progress of the investigation and add or respond to any requestions for further information anonymously.   

Through the platform we will aim to: 

• acknowledge receipt of a complaint within one working day. 
• provide an update on the complaint within 7 days. 
• conclude initial investigations within 21 days of receiving the complaint.