Message from Tim Lock, Dairy Sector Chair, Red Tractor
Dear Members,
The Dairy Sector Board met on 10 February 2026 for a productive and wide-ranging discussion focused on standards development, environmental regulation, supply chain resilience and opportunities to support members through upcoming changes.
Standards review and stakeholder feedback
The Dairy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) chaired by Dr Amy Jackson, continues to make good progress in its review of the Red Tractor Dairy Standards. Since beginning work in October, the TAC has been meeting regularly and is now close to completing its review of milk production standards.
The Committee is taking a thorough, line by line approach and is committed to reducing duplication and developing smarter, outcomes focused standards that reflect current legislation, new evidence and real world compliance data. The Board welcomed the constructive way all parts of the supply chain are contributing to the process.
To ensure transparency and collaboration, the TAC will share draft sections of the revised standards with the Dairy Sector Board for review as they become available.
As part of this work, we also reviewed stakeholder responses to the priorities set out for the dairy scheme. While the number of responses was lower than hoped, the feedback broadly supported the direction of travel, and we will pass relevant insights to the TAC to inform the standards review.
Water and air quality
The Board held an important discussion on water and air quality, following a request from the Red Tractor Board of Directors for each sector to consider potential future expectations in this area.
The Sector Board was asked to consider, at a high level, what future air and water expectations could look like, as part of routine scenario planning and scoping work.
This was a request for consideration, not a proposal or request for change.
Red Tractor recently hosted an online briefing to outline the current regulatory landscape which helped clarify the context behind this request. The Board also received a valuable update from NFU’s Nutrient Management Specialist, on the Agricultural Pollution Regulatory Review currently underway in England.
DEFRA is actively exploring industry led alternatives that could reduce the burden and cost on farmers of potential permitting, and we discussed how Red Tractor’s experience in areas such as area management and voluntary antibiotic stewardship may help shape any future solutions-led alternatives that could reduce the burden.
The Board agreed there may be a role for Red Tractor in supporting an industry-led approach, but the issues are complex, vary across the devolved nations, and will require detailed exploration. We will keep this on our agenda over the coming months.
Sustainable Soy
The Board heard an update from Nick Major on the evolving regulatory environment, including developments in Europe and the UK. As supply chain solutions mature, Red Tractor will continue to assess how best to respond on behalf of our members.
Updates to the Member Portal
We heard about the significant improvements being made to the Red Tractor Member Portal. These enhancements are designed to streamline assessments and give members more userfriendly digital tools.
Assessors have been trained on the new system and will use the Portal when members choose to adopt it. Portal use remains optional.
Animal handling training
The Board reaffirmed the need for consistent, sector wide training on animal handling, particularly in light of increased activist activity and wider scrutiny. Ensuring every person on farm understands and follows good handling practices is essential to maintaining high welfare standards.
Thank you to all Board members and contributors for their insight and commitment. As always, our focus remains on supporting dairy farmers, strengthening trust in the Red Tractor scheme and ensuring our standards remain proportionate, practical and future ready.
Tim Lock
Chair, Red Tractor Dairy Board
Dairy Sector Board Members
- Tim Lock – Chair
- Peter Dawson – Dairy UK
- Ian Harvey – NFU England and Wales
- Alice Miller – British Cattle Veterinary Association
- Murray Patrick – NFU Scotland
- Paul Dover – Processor
- Richard Collins – Processor
- Amy Jackson – TAC Chair
- Tom Atkins – Multiple Retailer
- Joseph Keating – BRC
- Mervyn Gordon – UFU
- Mark Brooking – Processor
- Christine Sloan – Processor
- Jonathan Wilkinson – NFU England and Wales
- Paul Flanagan – AHDB