Dairy First Purchaser Rules 

Dairy farm assurance is normally arranged by the dairy purchaser (being the first purchaser of milk from the farm and with whom the milk producer enters a milk supply contract).

The application process is slightly different.

If you are a farmer, your First Purchaser will choose your Certification Body.

If you are a First Purchaser or producer processor and wish to join the scheme, ask us for an application form.

Any business that buys milk wholesale from a producer can apply to become a Dairy Purchaser. They are bound by the membership rules governing Dairy Purchaser Members’ membership of the Scheme.

Separate membership rules, referred to as the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme Membership Rules, apply to milk producers and regulate their conformance to the Red Tractor Dairy Farm Assurance Standards.

Dairy Purchaser Members must (subject to two limited exceptions as set out in the Rules) ensure that each milk producer supplying them with milk has agreed to be bound by the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme Membership Rules and holds a valid certificate issued by a Certification Body, evidencing the milk producer’s conformance to the Red Tractor Dairy Farm Assurance Standards. Upon issue of such a certificate, the milk producer shall become a Milk Producer Member of the Scheme.

Individual dairy farms which are both a milk producer and a milk processor may apply for and, on an exceptional basis and at RTA’s absolute discretion, be accepted into membership of the Scheme as both a Milk Producer Member and a Dairy Purchaser Member. This type of Member is referred to as an Independent Member and must comply with both these Rules.