Perhaps one of the most striking things in the debate over the last few weeks about new unannounced spot checks for the Red Tractor assurance scheme has been the suggestion that 10% of dairy farms in NI are likely to trigger these follow-up visits.
That compares with only 5% of dairy farms in Britain. It suggests that dairy farms in NI are currently less compliant with the quality assurance rules than their counterparts across the Irish Sea.
Whether that is the case is highly questionable. Experience would suggest that the standards on NI farms are at least on a par with those in Britain.
But one area where we differ is how the quality assurance process is undertaken. In NI, the main certification body for beef and lamb, dairy, poultry and cereal farms is NI Food Chain Certification (NIFCC). It was established by the NI agri-food industry in 2001, on a not-for-profit basis, to provide certification schemes at a competitive cost.
As a result, farm assurance inspections in NI generally cost significantly less than similar inspections in Britain, where the main providers of certification schemes are commercial companies looking to return a dividend to shareholders.
The model in NI also means that all farmers are inspected by the same body, to the same standard. Compare that with Britain, where there are four different certification bodies inspecting under the Red Tractor scheme.
It is understood that these certification bodies each use their own inspection checklist, which invariably puts some inconsistency into the process. If one body was more lenient than another, then inevitably this would attract more work, which from a commercial point of view would make good business sense.
So from the outside, the model used in Britain looks flawed. In NI, we know the scheme is respected and rigorously enforced. Unannounced checks will add little, except more stress and anxiety for farmers.
Read more
One in 10 dairy farms face unnannounced checks
Red Tractor rolls out spot checks
Perhaps one of the most striking things in the debate over the last few weeks about new unannounced spot checks for the Red Tractor assurance scheme has been the suggestion that 10% of dairy farms in NI are likely to trigger these follow-up visits.
That compares with only 5% of dairy farms in Britain. It suggests that dairy farms in NI are currently less compliant with the quality assurance rules than their counterparts across the Irish Sea.
Whether that is the case is highly questionable. Experience would suggest that the standards on NI farms are at least on a par with those in Britain.
But one area where we differ is how the quality assurance process is undertaken. In NI, the main certification body for beef and lamb, dairy, poultry and cereal farms is NI Food Chain Certification (NIFCC). It was established by the NI agri-food industry in 2001, on a not-for-profit basis, to provide certification schemes at a competitive cost.
As a result, farm assurance inspections in NI generally cost significantly less than similar inspections in Britain, where the main providers of certification schemes are commercial companies looking to return a dividend to shareholders.
The model in NI also means that all farmers are inspected by the same body, to the same standard. Compare that with Britain, where there are four different certification bodies inspecting under the Red Tractor scheme.
It is understood that these certification bodies each use their own inspection checklist, which invariably puts some inconsistency into the process. If one body was more lenient than another, then inevitably this would attract more work, which from a commercial point of view would make good business sense.
So from the outside, the model used in Britain looks flawed. In NI, we know the scheme is respected and rigorously enforced. Unannounced checks will add little, except more stress and anxiety for farmers.
Read more
One in 10 dairy farms face unnannounced checks
Red Tractor rolls out spot checks
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