Pig farmers, vets and wider industry stakeholders are being asked to review proposed changes to the Red Tractor Pigs Standards during a six-week consultation period which is open now.
The proposals aim to strengthen welfare and biosecurity requirements and give producers greater clarity on farrowing accommodation.
One of the proposals is a new specification for flexible and free-farrowing systems, designed to support an industry-led move away from conventional farrowing crates for producers choosing to make the transition.
Stewart Houston, chair of the Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board, says the proposals recognise the need to improve welfare while giving farmers greater clarity.
“Farrowing is a significant investment for any business and producers need a clearer understanding of where the industry is heading,” he says.
The National Pig Association (NPA) has welcomed the approach.
Lizzie Wilson, chief executive of the NPA, says: “Producers have consistently told us they need greater clarity and confidence when planning future investment, and a clear, industry-agreed specification is an important step forward.
“We support an industry-led approach that delivers continuous improvements in animal welfare while remaining practical, workable and economically sustainable for British pig producers.”
Under the proposed changes to the Red Tractor Pigs Standards, new or second-hand conventional farrowing crates could no longer be installed from late 2027, while existing crates can remain in use.
The farrowing proposals form part of a wider review of more than 600 requirements that make up the current Pigs Standards, by the organisation’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), made up of farmers, vets, processors, retailers and technical experts.
Every requirement has been reviewed against defined criteria, with the resulting proposals scrutinised and agreed through consensus by the Pigs Sector Board.
Beyond farrowing accommodation, the proposals include measures to protect pigs from heat stress, changes to animal welfare requirements that would increase livestock checks from once to twice daily, and stronger biosecurity requirements.
Alongside these changes, guidance has been improved to make the standards easier to navigate and understand.
Mr Houston says the review has focused on ensuring standards remain practical for farmers while continuing to deliver confidence across the supply chain.
“We want standards that work for farmers and continue to give consumers and the wider supply chain confidence in how British pork is produced,” he says.
“We know this is an exceptionally difficult time for pig producers, and finding time to respond to a consultation isn’t easy.
“This review started well before the current challenges, and the proposals have been developed with input from across the industry.
“We want farmers to focus on the areas that matter most to their businesses. If something is unclear, difficult to implement or disproportionate, tell us why and what could work better. We’ll carefully consider that feedback before any changes are finalised.”The consultation runs from 10 November until midnight on 22 December 2026, with farmers and wider industry stakeholders encouraged to review the proposals and provide feedback
Consultation timings
The six-week consultation runs from 10 November to 22 December 2026. Implementation is expected in late 2027, subject to UKAS approval and completion of assessor training and operational updates. Final standards will be published at least three months before they take effect. Clearer guidance and assessor training will support consistent interpretation of the less prescriptive requirements.
Standards review – a sector-wide process
The Technical Advisory Committees has reviewed every audit point line by line against set criteria which covers legislation, industry best practice, historical compliance levels, applicability, reducing audit burden and clarity.
The proposed changes to the Pigs standards aim to deliver the priorities set by the Sector Board in December 2025, and incorporate advice from external experts and government agencies including the farming unions, Food Standards Agency (FSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), ), National Pig Association (NPA), Pig Veterinary Society, Defra, Humane Slaughter Association, independent veterinary expertise, alongside targeted consultation with retailers and processors.