TFF
Member
- Location
- Hammerwich
After we raised the issue of a TFF member who was facing losing status if he didn't allow an inspection to happen, despite having at risk members of his family on farm. Lots of support for the farmer on TFF< Twitter and Facebook.
Red Tractor have backed down from this ridiculous position and made the following announcement - please note the line in black which means they can't insist, but you must comply with a remote inspection. This is the very solution suggested by many TFF members yesterday.
We’re facing the greatest health crisis in a generation. During the next few months, the core foundations that hold the UK together will be tested – food production being one of them. Shoppers are relying on farmers, food companies and the wider industry to continue as normal wherever possible and, at the time of writing, that is what Red Tractor intends to do. We’ve been working closely with our certification bodies to ensure they have systems in place to protect the health of our members and their assessors, whilst protecting the integrity of the Scheme and ensuring we can continue to provide consumers and customers with the reassurance they expect from us. Red Tractor policy throughout this time has and will continue to follow Government guidelines.
We are confident that our certification bodies have implemented additional protocols to ensure that when an assessment goes ahead, both the member and the assessor are following the Government guidelines.
This means that:
• Members will be contacted before an arranged assessment to allow the assessor to check that they are not in self isolation,
• At the time of the proposed assessment, the assessor has not knowingly come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or has been in contact with anyone who has visited restricted countries within the last 14 days.
• Members will be asked if the site/farm has any specific control measures the assessor needs to comply with.
• The assessor will also explain the additional measures that will be put in place including additional protective clothing, maintaining physical distance, avoiding the farmhouse and additional sanitising.
Where both the member and assessor mutually agree, then the Red Tractor assessment will take place.
Where assessments cannot take place until a later date, in order to maintain certification to the Red Tractor scheme, there will be a requirement for the certification body to carry out a remote assessment. This is in accordance with UKAS requirements. We are at this time working with our certification bodies to determine what these will look like and the consequences for our members in each sector. Certification bodies will confirm this to those members affected and we will provide more details on our website when they are available.
For pig members – our position as at the time of writing is that Quarterly Vet visits should continue wherever possible, and where both the member and the vet mutually agree it is safe to do so. We are in close liaison with the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) and considering options for instances where it is not possible for the vet visit to go ahead. Further information on this will be provided in the near future when we have fully considered the options.
If members have any questions or concerns about how this will affect their individual certification, please contact your certification body who will continue to manage your Red Tractor certification on your behalf. See separate position relevant to Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processor Members and Licensees.
Certification Body contacts:
NSF Certification 07775575836
SAI Global 01908 249973
Lloyds Register 0131 335 6643
NIFCC 028 9263 3017
QWFC 01970 636688
Red Tractor have backed down from this ridiculous position and made the following announcement - please note the line in black which means they can't insist, but you must comply with a remote inspection. This is the very solution suggested by many TFF members yesterday.
COVID-19: Position on Red Tractor Farm, Market, Collection Centre, Haulier Schemes
We’re facing the greatest health crisis in a generation. During the next few months, the core foundations that hold the UK together will be tested – food production being one of them. Shoppers are relying on farmers, food companies and the wider industry to continue as normal wherever possible and, at the time of writing, that is what Red Tractor intends to do. We’ve been working closely with our certification bodies to ensure they have systems in place to protect the health of our members and their assessors, whilst protecting the integrity of the Scheme and ensuring we can continue to provide consumers and customers with the reassurance they expect from us. Red Tractor policy throughout this time has and will continue to follow Government guidelines.
We are confident that our certification bodies have implemented additional protocols to ensure that when an assessment goes ahead, both the member and the assessor are following the Government guidelines.
This means that:
• Members will be contacted before an arranged assessment to allow the assessor to check that they are not in self isolation,
• At the time of the proposed assessment, the assessor has not knowingly come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or has been in contact with anyone who has visited restricted countries within the last 14 days.
• Members will be asked if the site/farm has any specific control measures the assessor needs to comply with.
• The assessor will also explain the additional measures that will be put in place including additional protective clothing, maintaining physical distance, avoiding the farmhouse and additional sanitising.
Where both the member and assessor mutually agree, then the Red Tractor assessment will take place.
Where assessments cannot take place until a later date, in order to maintain certification to the Red Tractor scheme, there will be a requirement for the certification body to carry out a remote assessment. This is in accordance with UKAS requirements. We are at this time working with our certification bodies to determine what these will look like and the consequences for our members in each sector. Certification bodies will confirm this to those members affected and we will provide more details on our website when they are available.
For pig members – our position as at the time of writing is that Quarterly Vet visits should continue wherever possible, and where both the member and the vet mutually agree it is safe to do so. We are in close liaison with the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) and considering options for instances where it is not possible for the vet visit to go ahead. Further information on this will be provided in the near future when we have fully considered the options.
If members have any questions or concerns about how this will affect their individual certification, please contact your certification body who will continue to manage your Red Tractor certification on your behalf. See separate position relevant to Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processor Members and Licensees.
Certification Body contacts:
NSF Certification 07775575836
SAI Global 01908 249973
Lloyds Register 0131 335 6643
NIFCC 028 9263 3017
QWFC 01970 636688