Message from Nick Major, Chair of the Poultry Sector Board
Dear Members,
At our June meeting, the Poultry Sector Board welcomed our new CEO, Paul McLaughlin, at a time of continued change across the industry. As always, our discussions reflected both the scale of the challenge ahead and the strength of expertise within the room.
Sector Board members highlighted a shared priority to reduce audit burden across the supply chain, alongside the need to improve alignment in some areas with retailers and avoid unnecessary audit duplication.
Paul reinforced the strength of the poultry sector and the critical role that Red Tractor standards play in providing a robust implementation framework for the industry. He emphasised that responsibility for standards is shared across the supply chain represented in the Sector Board and set out his ambition for Red Tractor to be accepted by farmers, chosen by the market and understood by consumers. While there is a significant programme of work underway, much of this is not yet visible to producers, with benefits often only realised at the point of assessment.
Communications
The Board reviewed recent proactive communications activity across the poultry sector, including engagement at the Pig & Poultry Fair, and discussed the importance of the industry owning its story. Members also underlined the need to ensure communications fully reflect the breadth of the sector, including ducks and turkeys as well as chicken.
The Board also considered developments linked to animal welfare campaigns. Members agreed that a coordinated, cross-sector approach is required, with the industry prepared to respond if needed. Red Tractor will support in convening a group to discuss ways of working.
Standards review and technical priorities
The Board reviewed progress on the Poultry Standards review, led by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). We discussed a number of potential developments, including more outcome-based approaches to auditing, improved use of data and more valuable audit feedback to support continuous improvement. There was a strong support for improving consistency and quality of audit reporting, ensuring it reflects both good performance and areas for improvement.
Two specific areas were identified for further work. Nutrient management remains an important issue for the sector. While many producers are subject to Environmental Permitting Regulations, the sector board discussed the potential for Red Tractor to align with Environmental Permitting Regulations on nutrient management – and accept farms with valid permits as evidence of compliance – thereby reducing audit burden. The sector board agreed that more discussion was needed and asked the TAC to share proposals for non-permitted sites, as well as investigating the pros and limitations of earned recognition with permits, given the complexity of devolved IPPC audits.
In addition, the Sector Board considered the industry move to 30kg/m² stocking density, including the opportunity for Red Tractor to provide a consistent framework that supports both retailer requirements and producer flexibility.
We have agreed to begin with further data collection across the sector, develop potential approaches and review options ahead of any future implementation.
Finally, the Sector Board approved the Rustic Gold breed assessment,.
I have been able to attend all of the TAC meetings, and I have been hugely impressed with the diligence and collaborative approach taken by members. I want to thank them for their commitment to the process to date.
Our focus remains unchanged: to uphold high, credible standards that protect the reputation of British poultry, while reducing unnecessary burden and ensuring the scheme works for everyone across the supply chain.
Best wishes,
Nick Major
Chair, Poultry Sector Board
Poultry Sector Board members:
Nick Major – Chair
- Judith Irons – TAC Chair
- Aaron McKenna – British Poultry Council
- Clay Burrows – QBT
- Elena O’Callaghan – Retail
- Gavin Foster – British Poultry Council
- Jonty Hay – NFU
- Keith Warner – Integrator
- Kevin Sketcher – British Poultry Council
- Patrick Hook – NFU
- Viv Harris – British Retail Consortium
- Will Raw – NFU