Red Tractor is reminding all members involved in poultry production of the ongoing requirement to enrol in and progress through the Poultry Passport scheme, a key part of maintaining high standards across the industry.
This requirement is not new. The current Red Tractor Poultry standards and their predecessors have included professional training expectations since the early 2010s. While the legal obligation to complete the Poultry Diploma applies specifically to meat chickens, Red Tractor extends the training standard to all poultry schemes. This aligns with the British Poultry Training initiative, ensuring consistent professional qualifications across the UK poultry sector.
The push for formal qualifications traces back to the 2007 EU Broiler Directive, which mandated formal training for all personnel involved in meat chicken production. The UK poultry industry responded with an industry-led approach, expanding it to cover the wider poultry sector.
What Members Need to Know
All relevant personnel must be enrolled on the Poultry Passport scheme within six months of starting their role within the business. A confirmation email or letter from Poultry Passport can be used as evidence of enrolment at your assessment. It is important that personnel understand what is expected of them, which includes completing between five to seven short courses, depending on their role and responsibilities. For certain roles personnel will need to complete a City & Guilds Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Work-based Agriculture (Poultry).
Once enrolled, staff are expected to make consistent progress with their training. Everyone must complete at least two modules every 12 months; one module is the equivalent of one short course, or one unit of the Diploma, it us up the learner how they wish to plan their learning progress. Refreshing short courses does not count towards this requirement, and all short courses must be kept in date once they have been completed. Evidence of progress can be shown in several ways, ideally through your Poultry Passport dashboard, training certificates, or a diploma portfolio (either paper or e-portfolio).
The best way for you to demonstrate compliance at your audit is via your online poultry passport dashboard as this provides the most up-to-date information on the training progress and is the most efficient way of demonstrating that you meet this standard. A poultry passport ‘Team Manager’ account can provide visibility of the training records of all staff members – there is no need for an individual to share their login details. Don’t forget you can always login from your phone, but if you are without internet access, print the ‘Print Version’ from your Poultry Passport dashboard in landscape mode and fit to printable area to ensure it fits on one page.
For roles at Level 2 and above, a Diploma in Work-based Agriculture (Poultry) is mandatory. Where personnel already have existing qualifications, for example, an NVQ in Livestock Production (poultry)’, certificates can be submitted to Poultry Passport to be approved as an acceptable equivalent to completing the Diploma. Other higher qualifications which include poultry may also be an acceptable equivalent, as long as they cover the topics of the Diploma. It may be possible for personnel to enrol for the Diploma via an apprenticeship scheme, or through privately funded training. Both routes are equally valid, and your training provider can advise which option is most suitable for you.
Handling Training Challenges
Red Tractor recognises that delays in enrolment or training progression may occur. Any non-conformances should ideally be resolved within 28 days, with proof of enrolment or course booking shared with your certification body (CB). Where necessary, extensions can be arranged if a documented progression plan is in place.
Members are encouraged to work closely with their training provider to address gaps, create tailored training plans, and provide support for staff with language or learning needs. Keeping your CB informed of any delays or changes to training timelines is essential.
Quick Checklist:
- Enrol all relevant personnel within six months (from day one in the role)
- Ensure personnel complete training at the minimum level required: at least two modules per year (made up of either short courses or diploma units; refreshing short courses does not count towards this provision and all short courses should be kept in date once complete)
- Diplomas, where required (Level 2+) should be completed at a minimum of two units per year. Where this is not possible, agree a progression plan with your training provider and share it with your CB to extend the close out of any nonconformance.
- Check existing qualifications for equivalence with the Diploma with Poultry Passport for approval.
- Provide formal and official evidence of enrolment, training progress, and diploma commencement when required.
- Contact your training provider for support with training gaps, plans, or learning needs.
- Keep your CB informed of delays or changes to training timelines.
- Check now if you are compliant ahead of your next assessment, if you will not meet the standard requirement, ensure that you have a documented plan ready to show your path to compliance.
For full guidance, including exemptions and enrolment instructions, visit Poultry Passport. Plus, find context to the Red Tractor standards on the Poultry Passport, as well answers to some frequently asked questions about how to comply on our website here.