Fresh Produce Standards
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Version 5.1
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Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)
Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification
New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to
Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before
Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard
Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.
Cropping Categories Fresh Produce
Category 0 - Those you can eat raw and have a significant risk or history of pathogen contamination
Category 1 - Those you can eat raw and which do not have a protective skin that is removed before eating; they may also have a significant risk or history of pathogen contamination.
Category 2 - Those you can eat raw and which either have protective skin or grow clear of the ground, or that have no history of pathogen contamination.
Category 3 - Those that the customer always cooks.
An up-to-date list of the crop categories can be found on the Red Tractor website.
PR.IM.1
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) must be in place to proactively manage crop production (REVISED)
How you will be measured
PR.IM.1.a
PR.IM.1.b
PR.IM.1.c
PR.IM.1.d
PR.IM.1.e
IPM Plan
PR.IM.2
Regular crop inspections must be undertaken and recorded
How you will be measured
PR.IM.2.a
Crop inspection records/diary notes
PR.IM.3
Relevant pests, diseases and weeds must be monitored regularly and recorded
How you will be measured
PR.IM.3.a
PR.IM.3.b
Records of pests, diseases and weeds on-farm
PR.IM.4
Plans must be in place to minimise the use of PPPs without compromising product quality.
How you will be measured
PR.IM.4.a
PR.IM.5
A sample of each crop must be tested for pesticide residues at least annually, unless an evidence-based justification for less frequent testing is present (REVISED)
How you will be measured
PR.IM.5.a
PR.IM.5.b
PR.IM.5.c
PR.IM.5.d
PR.IM.5.e
PR.IM.5.f
PR.IM.5.g
- Pesticide residue test results
– Documented follow up actions (where appropriate)
– Documented sampling procedure
– Documented justification for reduced testing frequency or testing suite (where applicable)
PR.IM.6
Where maximum nitrate concentrations apply to crop commodities, the risk must be considered and appropriate testing regimes implemented.
How you will be measured
PR.IM.6.a
PR.IM.6.b
PR.IM.6.c
- Risk Assessment
– Product testing for nitrates
More Standards
Download Fresh Produce Standards Manual
Download Fresh Produce Standards Manual – Including GLOBALG.A.P Module
Download the changes to the Fresh Produce Standards from 1 February 2025
Download watercress protocol
Download hops protocol
Useful Documents
UK Crops grown and risk categories
Fresh Produce assessment structure
- IM.2 – For a template IPM plan, visit: www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/schemes/integrated-pest-management
- IM.5 – Testing may be completed by a customer or other supply chain stakeholder provided that the required testing frequency is met and results of testing are made available to the grower
- IM.6 – For background information on nitrate parameters in fresh produce, see:
https://www.food.gov.uk/research/research-projects/nitrate-monitoring-in-spinach-and-lettuce-surveillance-programme. As of 2021, nitrate legislation applies to spinach, lettuce and rocket.
