The Red Tractor farm standards for chicken provide an integrated assurance chain to internationally recognised standards. Assuring food safety throughout the food chain is a priority for the poultry meat industry and for consumers.
The Assurance Standards for poultry focus on issues which ensure that the food that comes from the poultry is safe; that the birds have been well cared for with animal welfare being a priority; that the birds have been fed with animal feed that is safe and free from contamination and that they have been housed under good conditions and transported in safe and clean vehicles. They allow farmers to demonstrate that their levels of husbandry and welfare meet nationally agreed levels of best practice and give assurance to the consumer that the product is safe. It also demonstrates full traceability from egg to processing.
The standards of the Red Tractor poultry scheme (known as Assured Chicken Production or ACP) deal with all the key concerns:
TRACEABILITY AND INTEGRITY (TI)
All food must be fully traceable so it is possible to establish where it is from and where it went and provide consumers with the confidence they require.
STAFF AND CONTRACTORS (SC)
Properly trained and competent staff, whether directly employed or contractors, are essential to achievinggood standards of production.
VERMIN CONTROL (VC)
Control of vermin (including birds, rodents and insects) and other animals (including cats and dogs) is vital to prevent contamination of animal feed or harvested crops. This is important in the production of safe food, managing biosecurity and preventing the spread of disease.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & CONTAMINATION CONTROL (EC)
A responsible attitude to the countryside and the environment is essential. Carefully managing the storage, application and disposal of fertilisers, pesticides (including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides), manures and other potential pollutants in accordance with current legislation and best practice will prevent pollution of the environment (including watercourses, soil, air and wildlife habitats), contamination and spread of disease.
DOCUMENTS AND PROCEDURES (DP)
Access to certain documents and Codes of Practice’s ensures the most relevant information and best practice guidance is available to producers. Certain plans, records and procedures are required to assist the legal and safe production of food. (Other records will also be required by specific scheme standards.)
ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE (AH)
All animals must be maintained in good health and their welfare requirements must be met to ensure they are free from hunger and thirst; from discomfort; from pain, injury or disease; from fear and distress and to express normal behaviour. Competent staff are key to ensuring that animals are managed to good standards of husbandry and welfare as provided for in current EU, UK and regional legislation and Codes of Practice.
ANIMAL MEDICINES AND BIOSECURITY (AM)
The use of medicines (including vaccines) and treatments may be required to maintain animals in good health and it is essential they are administered only when necessary and in an appropriate manner by competent staff. All medicines and treatments must be stored and disposed of safely to ensure no risk to animals, humans or the environment and all relevant medicine records must be kept to ensure traceability and demonstrate that the meat and milk is safe to consume. The implementation of biosecurity measures will prevent the spread of disease.
FEED AND WATER (FW)
All animals must be fed to ensure their good health and well-being. Safe feedstuffs are vital both for the animals' health and to ensure there is no risk of contamination of the meat and milk they produce. All feedstuffs must comply with relevant, current EU, UK and regional legislation, be stored in good conditions and relevant records must be kept to ensure all feed is traceable.
HOUSING, SHELTER AND HANDLING FACILITIES (HF)
Provision of sufficient facilities which allow comfortable and clean housing and allow for the safe handling of animals is important to ensure healthy animals and prevent the spread of disease.
Evidence that livestock have been injured as a result of inadequate facilities will be marked as a non-conformance under Standard AH.1
CASUALTY AND FALLEN STOCK (CF)
Promptly managing any fallen stock on farm by handling, storing and disposing of them in accordance with current legislation and best practice will prevent pollution of the environment (including watercourses, soil, air and wildlife habitats), contamination and spread of disease.
BREEDER LAYER / EGGS (BE)
Hygiene and handling procedures for eggs are important to ensure that contamination risks are minimised. All eggs must be fully traceable so it is possible to establish where they are from.
POULTRY TRANSPORT (PT)
To ensure that birds are transported safely and compassionately this must be done in accordance with current legislation. Drivers are responsible for the welfare of birds they transport. Precautions must be taken to minimise contamination and prevent the spread of disease.
DEPOPULATION (DE)
Depopulation must be handled in a way that maintains the health and welfare requirements of birds.
Competent staff are key to ensuring good management of depopulation.
SLAUGHTER / LAIRAGE (SL)
Welfare requirements must be met during lairage and slaughter. Staff competency is key to ensuring that animals are managed to good standards of welfare as provided for in current EU, UK and regional legislation and Codes of Practice.
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