Message from Stewart Houston, Pigs Sector Chair, Red Tractor
Dear Members,
The Pigs Sector Board met in June 2026 for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the Red Tractor pig scheme, including the ongoing standards review, flexible farrowing, and sector communications. We also reflected on the difficult market conditions as the wider pigs sector continues to make its way through supply challenges.
We welcomed Jemma Flinton from Tesco as the new retailer representative and a further indoor producer. We also welcomed Red Tractor Chief Executive, Paul McLaughlin, who underlined the importance of sector autonomy and the Sector Boards’ role in agreeing standards that the industry can support and stand behind. Paul’s ambition for Red Tractor is to be trusted by farmers, chosen by markets and understood by consumers.
The Sector Board discussed the importance of its role in improving farmer sentiment towards assurance, particularly through developing practical standards, clear communication, and overseeing a better assessment experience.
Progress on the standards review
The Board received an update on the Technical Advisory Committee’s (TAC) review of the pig standards
The TAC has now completed a hygiene check of all the existing standards, removing duplication, improving readability, strengthening or rewording standards where appropriate, removing requirements that are not applicable to pigs, and horizon scanning for future challenges.
The Pig Board discussed several areas in detail, including visitor facilities, especially showers, enrichment, stocking density for finishing pigs towards the end of the growing period, especially in the light of more extremely hot spells of weather. Members recognised that finishing weights have increased over time and that standards need to reflect practical weather considerations, including how producers manage stocking density and thinning ahead of scale.
The Pigs Sector Board will meet again in September to review the final proposed standards being developed by the TAC before publicly consulting on the proposals later this year.
Flexible farrowing
Flexible farrowing remained an important area of discussion. The board discussed a proposal developed by the TAC, including the need to give producers confidence to invest, protect early adopters and provide a framework for voluntary progress. The approach needs to balance evidence, feasibility, customer requirements, auditability and burden. We expect to share a specification with members before the end of the year. This would be considered as part of a potential enhanced welfare indoor standard at a later date.
Environmental requirements
The Sector Board discussed the potential for environmental standards. Farmer representatives noted that pig farmers are already facing developing environmental regulation, and there was concern that Red Tractor Standards need to avoid duplicating regulation or retailer requirements before the legal direction is clearer.
The Board also discussed the difference between manure management plans and nutrient management plans, including the practical challenges where slurry is applied to neighbouring land. Board members agreed that any changes must be proportionate, auditable and practical for producers.
Communications, research and animal welfare campaigns
Red Tractor Director of Communications & Engagement Jo Miller updated the Sector Board on recent communications, including supporting producers to respond to activists, positive engagement at the Pig & Poultry Fair, and Red Tractor’s wider communications programme. Jo also shared findings from Red Tractor’s research, including the Trust in Food Index 2026, the Post Assessment Survey and the Farmer Sentiment Survey.
The research reinforced the need to maintain public trust while responding to farmer feedback on audit experience, standards burden and the value Red Tractor delivers. The board also discussed ongoing responses to animal welfare campaigns and the importance of improving understanding of indoor pig production among stakeholders, including enforcement bodies.
Next steps
The Pig Sector Board will continue to develop the next version of the Pig Standards, with the agreement that optional enhanced welfare standards should not be consulted on at the same time as the core standards review, but delivered separately after further work by the TAC.
Stewart Houston
Chair, Red Tractor Pig Sector Board
Pigs Sector Board Members:
- Stewart Houston – Chair
- Grace O’ Gorman – TAC Chair
- Lizzie Wilson – NPA
- Stephen Waite – Processor
- Jemma Flinton – Retailer
- Alex Thomsett – PVS
- Mark Haighton – AHDB
- Muhamed Maliki – Processor
- Pig Producer Reps x 5