Because our standards cover the entire supply chain from farm to pack, products need to be certified at every critical link of the chain. Here is a summary of the series of assurance hurdles that various products need to clear in production, processing and packing to achieve the Red Tractor mark in the shops or on restaurant menus.
Beef and lamb
Beef products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be produced from an ‘assured whole chain’. In addition to farms, feed, livestock markets, transport, abattoirs, cutting plants and packing plants must be assured to the appropriate standards. Food businesses that further process and/or cook product are also required to hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standards for food.
Pork
Pork products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be produced from an ‘assured whole chain’. In addition to farms, feed, transport, abattoirs and cutting plants must be assured to the appropriate standards. Food businesses that produce sausages, bacon or ham must adhere to the appropriate British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA) processing standards and specifications for these products. Food businesses that further process and or cook product are also required to hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food.
Chicken
Chicken products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be produced from an ‘assured whole chain’. The entire production chain must be assured to Assured Chicken Production (ACP) standards. These cover feed supplies, the management of ‘parent flocks’ and hatcheries, as well as the producing farms, catching of birds, transport for processing and treatment of the birds prior to processing. Slaughterhouses and processing plants must hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food. Food businesses that further process and or cook product are also required to hold current and valid certification to the BRC global standards for food.
Turkey
Turkey products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be produced from an ‘assured whole chain’. The entire production chain must be assured to Quality British Turkey (QBT) standards. Food businesses that further process and or cook product are also required to hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food.
Dairy
Dairy products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be produced from an ‘assured whole chain’. First purchasers of the milk must be members of Assured Dairy Farms (ADF) and they must ensure that all supplying farms are regularly inspected. The processing plant where the milk is processed and/or packed must hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food.
Produce
Fruit and vegetables to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be grown by or sourced from growers certified to Assured Produce (AP) standards. Food businesses that further process or cook products are also required to hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food.
Cereals and sugar
Cereals, oil seeds and sugar beet products to which the Red Tractor logo is applied must be sourced from farmers/growers certified to Assured Combinable Crops Scheme (ACCS) standards. The processing plant and/or packing plant where the product is further processed must hold current and valid certification to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standards for food.