Message from Stewart Houston, Pigs Sector Chair, Red Tractor
Dear Members,
The Pig Sector Board met on 28 October 2026, with discussions covering the consultation on proposed changes to standards, flexible farrowing, reducing audit burden, heat stress and several wider issues affecting the sector.
Northern Ireland
I updated the Board on my recent meeting with pig producers in Northern Ireland, which was extremely well attended. It was a constructive meeting and I was grateful for the positive way producers engaged with us. I have offered to return in the spring to continue the conversation.
Standards consultation and flexible farrowing
The Board received an update on how the consultation on standards changes would be managed and communicated. We discussed the importance of explaining the evidence behind the flexible farrowing specification. We want members to understand how proposals have been reached, while being clear that they are still subject to consultation and that we want to hear your views.
We agreed there is a need for clear supporting information addressing some of the questions producers are likely to ask, including how proposals relate to legislation and what future transition arrangements could look like.
Reducing the burden of assurance
We had a useful discussion about Red Tractor’s plans for making assurance work better for farmers, including greater use of risk-based assessments, better use of data, improved recognition of group structures and making assessments a more useful source of insight for producers. The team will be looking at each of these in more detail and the Board will continue to provide feedback on the workstreams as they develop.
The pig sector already have experience of risk-based assurance, and we want to build on that. We will also look at where differences betqeen sector requirements create additional audit burden for limited benefit.
Heat stress
Following this summer’s hot weather, I updated the Board on the work taking place across the industry on heat stress.
The Board agreed with the direction of travel. Look out for a series of communications sharing guidance and advice. Board members were clear this should include practical advice around nutrition, recognising the signs of heat stress and the action producers can take. The priority must be prevention and helping producers manage the risk before issues occur.
Responsible soy
The Board also received an update on responsible soy, covering the EU Deforestation Regulation, AIC’s Sustainable Commodities Scheme (ASCS) and emerging UK regulation.
There are still differences between the various approaches, but this is a rapidly developing area where greater alignment between EU and UK regulation could be expected. We will need to continue to consider what those changes mean for pig producers and ensure requirements do not unfiarly disadvantage domestic production against imports.
Other issues
Finally, we discussed research commissioned by AHDB into public attitudes towards pig welfare. Alongside the government’s consultation on phasing out CO₂ stunning and the future use of electric goads by hauliers.
As this was Carol’s last Board meeting as Pigs Technical Manager, I thanked her for her knowledge, commitment and considerable contribution to Red Tractor and the pig sector.
Stewart Houston
Chair, Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board
Pig Sector Board:
- Stewart Houston – Chair
- Grace O’Gorman – TAC Chair
- Lizzie Wilson – NPA
- Stephen Waite – Processor
- Jemma Flitton – Retailer
- Alex Thomsett – PVS
- Mark Haighton – AHDB
- Muhamed Maliki – Processor
- Graham Wilkinson – Processor
- Andy McGowan – Marketing Organisation
- Pig Producer Reps X 5