The Purple Tractor Pigs Sector Board is looking for views on proposals to introduce tiered welfare requirements and labelling for UK pigmeat.
On the request of {industry}, it has launched a six-week session that features proposals to introduce two new voluntary tiers, every with its personal devoted emblem:
- Enhanced Welfare: Pork from outdoor-bred or outdoor-reared pigs completed indoors, with more room and a strong, bedded mendacity space.
- Free Vary: Pork from pigs with steady out of doors entry.
The session additionally proposes some changes to Purple Tractor’s present requirements, which it mentioned are required to make sure the equivalence with different assurance schemes, and to make sure core requirements replicate greatest apply.
Whereas the Purple Tractor Pigs Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) believes that many out of doors and indoor producers already function on the proposed requirements, the session is designed to determine exact views on this.
Purple Tractor can be contemplating a brand new ‘Licensed Requirements Plus’ tier for indoor manufacturing, with versatile farrowing as the important thing standards. It’s looking for views from the pig sector on whether or not such a tier would assist assist an industry-led transition to versatile farrowing, to keep away from conflicting retailer necessities and cut back enterprise uncertainty.
It factors out that there’s rising momentum inside the UK pig sector in direction of versatile farrowing, and the sector is eager for this to be industry-led moderately than legislated by authorities.
“Purple Tractor has supported the pig {industry}’s voluntary initiatives earlier than, like antibiotic use reporting, and sees a possibility to do the identical right here by offering clear requirements for versatile farrowing and a mechanism to promote it to shoppers,” it mentioned.
Scale back value and complexity
Purple Tractor’s proposed modular strategy to welfare requirements for the pigs sector builds on the success and recognition of the present Purple Tractor Licensed Requirements emblem and is just like the tiered mannequin launched for the poultry sector in 2020. It mentioned the proposed strategy may cut back audit value and complexity for producers and simplify shopper alternative.
Stewart Houston, Purple Tractor Pigs chairman mentioned: “For pig producers, their dedication to animal welfare is on the coronary heart of the whole lot they do.
“The Purple Tractor Pigs Sector Board believes the proposed labelling system would supply a clearer, easier means for our members to speak and differentiate their welfare requirements. It may additionally improve shoppers’ capability to make knowledgeable buying choices by uniting present tiers inside the pork class beneath a set of Purple Tractor logos.
“The event of the voluntary Enhanced Welfare and Free Vary tiers for pork additionally demonstrates Purple Tractor’s swift supply towards the Farm Assurance Evaluate. The proposed system may take away the necessity for producers to juggle a number of assurance schemes, lowering audit burden and related prices. Processors may additionally profit from decrease licence charges and simplified packaging by utilizing a unified Purple Tractor emblem system.
“Purple Tractor is dedicated to participating with as many pig members, processors, retailers, vets, and different stakeholders as doable to make sure Purple Tractor assurance continues to ship for them. The Pigs Sector Board will solely introduce the modifications if there’s majority assist from the UK pig {industry}. I encourage everybody to share their views and assist form the way forward for UK pig farming.”
He mentioned the ‘Licensed Requirements Plus’ tier may show proactive welfare enhancements and probably cut back the necessity for heavy-handed laws, whereas supporting producers in assembly evolving expectations.
“Whereas this tier continues to be beneath improvement and never anticipated to launch within the close to future with out additional consideration, Purple Tractor is on the lookout for early enter from producers to assist form the long-term improvement of this potential extra voluntary tier,” he added.
The Session
- To be taught extra concerning the proposals and reply to the session, go to Purple Tractor’s web site: https://redtractorassurance.org.uk/pigs-standards-and-labeling-proposals-consultation/
- The session runs from April 28 to June 6 and is open to all pig producers, {industry} stakeholders, and provide chain prospects.
- Respondents can present suggestions anonymously if most well-liked, and all enter will assist finalise the requirements to make sure they’re workable and helpful for the {industry}.
- The Purple Tractor Sector Board will evaluation the suggestions at its subsequent assembly on June 2025 and, primarily based on {industry} suggestions, determine on whether or not to introduce the brand new modules, continuing provided that there’s ‘clear assist’.
The proposed requirements have been developed by the Purple Tractor Pigs Technical Advisory Committee, supported by a devoted process and end group together with a mixture of TAC members, vets and welfare consultants, and 4 extra pig producers representing varied methods, indoor, versatile farrowing outdoor-bred and free-range methods.
Retailers have been concerned on the TAC stage solely. The Purple Tractor Pigs Sector Board have overseen and scrutinised the event of the proposals.
