- Location
- Yorks
Reply from AIC. Discuss.
Following on from your recent correspondence to Simon Williams and your subsequent discussion. AIC have now had a chance to consider your queries in consultation with our assurance committees.
AIC’s role in assurance is to uphold and maintain the standards of the feed and food supply chain for
cereals and feedstuffs for the benefit of our consumers and UK agriculture. Our role underpins feed and food safety for the agri-food supply chain, in which UK cereal growers have a pivotal role. We take this role very seriously and will not undermine any existing food/ feed standards in the UK. We believe and
know many farmers recognise that maintaining feed and food standards within the UK is of paramount
importance for consumer confidence, especially in the current climate of Covid and EU Exit.
On your points about the difference between the acceptance of AFS Red Tractor standards between UK
combinable crops and crops from non-UK/Eire our aim is to ensure consumer confidence in feed and food safety is maintained. It is recognised that the method of assurance can differ in some supply chains but the outcome of safe feed and food is paramount. AIC are not responsible for making or setting the standards at farm level but recognise existing farm standards are required at food retail and food service
level by all in the supply chain.
As you are aware there are no farm assurance schemes active in major grain exporting countries, but as
a result of this the first collector or shipper of the crops is required to carry out extensive sampling and
analysis of the commodities they are trading to demonstrate compliance with UK/ EU limits on pesticides,
heavy metals, mycotoxins to name three, more information can be found here “Grains and Feedstuffs in
the UK – Checks and Controls”. These requirements, sometimes referred to as “gatekeeper rules” are
included in the relevant AIC schemes as well as all the international schemes recognised by AIC, ensuring the safety of imported crops. These rules for feed and food safety come at significant costs to the supply chain.
Regarding the points in your email about the requirements of AIC schemes in relation to the supply of
combinable crops to feed mills or other potential users. Specifically, there is nothing to prevent a Red
Tractor assured farmer marketing their crops directly to feed mills, or any other potential user.
Thank you for highlighting the text from our Feed Food Schemes list relating to imported crops. This
acceptance of a statement from a supplier dates back in excess of 15 years, when the assurance of
overseas supply chains for combinable crops was less well developed. Since then, we have encouraged and cooperated with other organisations in the international supply chain to achieve certification back to, in many cases, the point of first collection or at least the port of loading. The acceptance of a supplier statement is now outdated and having consulted with a number of large users and traders of combinable crops we will look to amend these requirements as outlined in the paragraph above.
In terms of your central request to remove the requirement for assured UK and Irish crops, AIC strongly
believe that this would be a serious retrograde step having successfully developed a farm to fork supply
chain with each link independently certified to robust standards. AIC believe that the work of RTA, TASCC,
FEMAS and UFAS participants in maintaining, improving and complying with these standards has
benefitted the entire supply chain through reduced risk of food and feed safety incidents, and helping to
provide certified companies with a due diligence defence in case of any challenges. We understand that
many downstream users of your product (grains and seed) require assurance which AFS Red Tractor
provides.
I am aware that this response may not answer all of your concerns, however, as stated AIC only form one part of the agri-food supply chain. We, in turn respond to our customer requirements higher up the chain.
A large market share of UK retailers and food service organisations support the use of the Red Tractor
schemes, not only in combinable crops but across all of the major agricultural sectors of the UK. These
schemes are voluntary and farmers can choose whether to be part of this assurance chain or not.
You have raised some important issues around trading requirements in the UK and globally and I am sure
the debate will continue in this area.
Yours sincerely,
Following on from your recent correspondence to Simon Williams and your subsequent discussion. AIC have now had a chance to consider your queries in consultation with our assurance committees.
AIC’s role in assurance is to uphold and maintain the standards of the feed and food supply chain for
cereals and feedstuffs for the benefit of our consumers and UK agriculture. Our role underpins feed and food safety for the agri-food supply chain, in which UK cereal growers have a pivotal role. We take this role very seriously and will not undermine any existing food/ feed standards in the UK. We believe and
know many farmers recognise that maintaining feed and food standards within the UK is of paramount
importance for consumer confidence, especially in the current climate of Covid and EU Exit.
On your points about the difference between the acceptance of AFS Red Tractor standards between UK
combinable crops and crops from non-UK/Eire our aim is to ensure consumer confidence in feed and food safety is maintained. It is recognised that the method of assurance can differ in some supply chains but the outcome of safe feed and food is paramount. AIC are not responsible for making or setting the standards at farm level but recognise existing farm standards are required at food retail and food service
level by all in the supply chain.
As you are aware there are no farm assurance schemes active in major grain exporting countries, but as
a result of this the first collector or shipper of the crops is required to carry out extensive sampling and
analysis of the commodities they are trading to demonstrate compliance with UK/ EU limits on pesticides,
heavy metals, mycotoxins to name three, more information can be found here “Grains and Feedstuffs in
the UK – Checks and Controls”. These requirements, sometimes referred to as “gatekeeper rules” are
included in the relevant AIC schemes as well as all the international schemes recognised by AIC, ensuring the safety of imported crops. These rules for feed and food safety come at significant costs to the supply chain.
Regarding the points in your email about the requirements of AIC schemes in relation to the supply of
combinable crops to feed mills or other potential users. Specifically, there is nothing to prevent a Red
Tractor assured farmer marketing their crops directly to feed mills, or any other potential user.
Thank you for highlighting the text from our Feed Food Schemes list relating to imported crops. This
acceptance of a statement from a supplier dates back in excess of 15 years, when the assurance of
overseas supply chains for combinable crops was less well developed. Since then, we have encouraged and cooperated with other organisations in the international supply chain to achieve certification back to, in many cases, the point of first collection or at least the port of loading. The acceptance of a supplier statement is now outdated and having consulted with a number of large users and traders of combinable crops we will look to amend these requirements as outlined in the paragraph above.
In terms of your central request to remove the requirement for assured UK and Irish crops, AIC strongly
believe that this would be a serious retrograde step having successfully developed a farm to fork supply
chain with each link independently certified to robust standards. AIC believe that the work of RTA, TASCC,
FEMAS and UFAS participants in maintaining, improving and complying with these standards has
benefitted the entire supply chain through reduced risk of food and feed safety incidents, and helping to
provide certified companies with a due diligence defence in case of any challenges. We understand that
many downstream users of your product (grains and seed) require assurance which AFS Red Tractor
provides.
I am aware that this response may not answer all of your concerns, however, as stated AIC only form one part of the agri-food supply chain. We, in turn respond to our customer requirements higher up the chain.
A large market share of UK retailers and food service organisations support the use of the Red Tractor
schemes, not only in combinable crops but across all of the major agricultural sectors of the UK. These
schemes are voluntary and farmers can choose whether to be part of this assurance chain or not.
You have raised some important issues around trading requirements in the UK and globally and I am sure
the debate will continue in this area.
Yours sincerely,
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