All our producers and processors are inspected regularly to ensure that they are following our standards. The inspectors work for certification bodies – specialist organisations commissioned by Red Tractor assurance to provide an inspection and certification service to farmers and other businesses. We insist that inspectors are properly trained and that all the certification bodies we use are fully accredited to do the job.
AFS has elected to design its schemes around the international standard for product certification EN45011 (ISO Guide 65). This standard requires the certification bodies who inspect farms against our requirements to have the right expertise, operate impartially and be consistent. The certification bodies are regularly assessed and accredited against EN45011 by a national body, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Farms are inspected regularly. In most product sectors this means annually, but in those enterprises where livestock will generally be grazing for parts of the year – beef, lambs and dairy - we have a slightly longer interval between routine inspections. A visit every 17 or 18 months allows the inspectors to see the operation of the farm in different seasons. However, this routine programme is supplemented with some random spot checks. The farmer knows that although his next routine inspection is not due for some months, he might be subject to a spot check at any time.
Producers must comply with all our standards to gain or retain their certificates of assurance. Some businesses will pass the inspection with flying colours. In other cases the inspector might find some points on which the standards are not met, and these will have to be put right. Where standards are not met, the business will be carefully assessed by the certification body. If the shortcomings identified are of a minor nature and they can be put right relatively quickly, the producer concerned will not lose our certification. But an action plan will have to be agreed with the certification body to correct things within an agreed timescale. Every problem must be put right in each inspection cycle.
There may be other situations where the problems are more significant. In these cases a farm assurance certificate can be suspended until the business has rectified them. If things are not corrected in a reasonable time then the certificate can be withdrawn completely.