Dear Members,
The Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Board met on 6th November. The meeting was highly positive, with all Board members fully engaged and contributing constructively throughout. Everyone demonstrated a strong collective will to address the evolving needs of the sector with integrity, transparency, and strategic foresight, with significant progress being made towards reducing audit burden. While some complex issues require further exploration, the Board’s commitment to collaboration and evidence-based decision-making provides a solid foundation for progress.
Strategic direction & governance
The Board reaffirmed its support for the Beef and Lamb strategy, recognising it as a dynamic framework that must evolve with industry needs. Governance improvements were noted, including increased transparency, stakeholder engagement, and a more inclusive approach to decision-making. The Board acknowledged the need to maintain momentum and ensure that future decisions are informed by robust stakeholder input.
Standards Review
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has made considerable progress reviewing Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Standards. The approach is systematic, evidence-based, and collaborative, with an overall objective of reducing audit burden on farmers while remaining relevant and maintaining the high regard for British beef and lamb. Standards are being assessed line-by-line with justification for each clause, considering legislative alignment, risk, and practical implementation.
Initial reviews have focused on foundational areas such as documentation, personnel, traceability, and fallen stock. Future sessions will address more complex topics including biosecurity, housing, and husbandry. The Board praised the TAC’s diverse composition and the constructive tone of discussions, noting that the process is already delivering simplification and clarity without compromising rigour.
There was strong support for the TAC’s methodology, which includes benchmarking against legislation, assessing non-conformance data, and ensuring standards are both assessable and meaningful. The Board agreed that this work is essential to restoring trust and improving the farmer experience.
Following comprehensive scrutiny and approval by all members of the TAC and Board, members and other stakeholders will have the chance to share their views during the 2026 review process. Any fine-tuning based on that feedback will be completed before the updated standards are introduced in early 2027.
Assessments
The Board explored options for reforming the assessment processes, including risk-based and surveillance assessments. Proposals included tailoring assessment frequency based on non-conformance history and using data to streamline assurance. The Board supported further development of this model with input from Certification Bodies and assessors. There was agreement that any changes must be clearly communicated and aligned with the standards review process.
Communications & reputation management
Representatives from Red Tractor’s communications and marketing teams presented updates on consumer and member engagement, including the 25-year anniversary campaign and meeting members in person. The Board discussed recent activists’ exposes and the ASA ruling, praising Red Tractor’s consistent and fair response. Continued investment in communications and a sector-specific strategy, including a clear, unified articulation of the sector’s strategic priorities, were endorsed.
I raised the issue Red Tractor’s role in assuring the sector’s environmental credentials and lifetime assurance because these are of strategic importance to the sector. They are complex topics that require careful consideration, and while no decisions or timelines have been set, these issues must remain on the table. The Board’s role is to ensure they are thoroughly discussed, so that any future actions are informed, evidence-based, and aligned with the long-term interests of the sector.
Assuring environmental credentials
Building on work already underway by AHBD, our discussion covered two dimensions: legal compliance (e.g. water pollution, farming rules) and broader sustainability (e.g. biodiversity, waste, carbon).
Board members expressed concern about fragmentation across assurance schemes and duplication of effort. Red Tractor was seen as a potential unifying vehicle to streamline environmental data collection. However, there was caution about whether this fell within Red Tractor’s remit. The Board agreed that it would only progress to support any environmental credentials at the request of the entire industry.
Lifetime assurance
The lack of lifetime assurance has clear reputational implications. However, from their experience the Board felt that a significant proportion of livestock is probably already lifetime assured, but that gaps do remain, particularly in the store producer segment of the industry. Concerns were raised about market incentives, operational complexity, and the risk of alienating producers.
Despite these challenges, there was broad agreement that Red Tractor must address lifetime assurance at some point in the future to maintain consumer trust and industry integrity. The Board agreed that a lot of further exploration is needed, including consideration of potential phased implementation, clearer messaging, and alignment with market expectations. The issue will remain on the agenda for future meetings.
Best Wishes,
John Dracup
Red Tractor Beef & Lamb Produce Sector Chair
Beef & Lamb Sector Board Members
- David Morgan – NFU
- Samantha Charlton – AHDB
- Alice Liddle – BRC/Food Service
- Alistair Brown – Livestock Auctioneers Association (joined in Nov 2025)
- Phil Stocker – National Sheep Association (joined in Nov 2025)
- Phil Hambling – British Meat Processors Association
- Henry Blain – Multiple Retailer
- Jude Capper – TAC Chair
- Andrew Crutchley – British Cattle Veterinary Association
- Sarah Haire – Dawn Meats (BMPA Representative)
- Ben Harman – National Beef Association
- Jack Davies – Retailer