Dear Poultry Scheme Members,
I hope this message finds you well. As part of our ongoing commitment to enhance communication and engagement within the Poultry Sector, I am pleased to provide you with an update from our recent board discussions.
Direct Communication: There was unanimous agreement among the board members on the importance of direct communication with farm-level members. It was agreed that further discussions were needed with businesses to identify ways of ensuring vital updates and information is shared correctly at all levels within our sector.
Governance Review Recommendations: The board thoroughly scrutinised the Campbell Tickell recommendations, ensuring that our actions align with the best interests of our sector and uphold our standards.
Greener Farms Commitment: I explained the process that Red Tractor will only introduce new environmental standards when asked for by industry, and that they will only be implemented on a sector-by-sector basis. This tailored approach could allow us to address specific challenges and opportunities within the Poultry Sector, if required, to promote sustainability practices that are both pragmatic and impactful.
Welfare Labelling Consultation: We discussed the harm Defra’s ‘Fairer Food Labelling’ proposals would inflict on UK poultry businesses. Alongside the British Poultry Council, National Pig Association, British Meat Processing Association and the National Farmers Union, Red Tractor has been advocating for the way you farm. You can read a copy of the letter, here.
Technical updates: The Board agreed that a working group of appropriate stakeholders should review the Catching & Transport standards to ensure that they are fit for purpose and keep pace with the farm standards. We also discussed the pilot that Red Tractor are delivering in the Wye Valley with a group of poultry members; the standards will help poultry farmers who are using litter anywhere in their business demonstrate that all applications made to land are done in a responsible way.
Kind regards,
Iain, Red Tractor Poultry Sector Chairman
Poultry Board members:
Clay Burrows – QBT
James Mottershead – NFU
Gavin Foster – BPC
Philip Wilkinson OBE – BPC
David Neilson – Integrator
Tom Meeson – British Retail Consortium
Natalie Smith – Retailer
David Gibson – BPC
Jonty Hay – NFU
Judith Irons – TAC Chair
