The big beef debate: Arguments for and against Red Tractor lifetime assurance

Yes

Why do we need lifetime assurance for beef?

The scheme provides assurance that beef has come from farms that operate to good standards and where the welfare of livestock is well cared for. That assurance is hollow if we only know where the animal has been for 90 days. What’s more it’s out of step with assurance of most other livestock.

What evidence is there that it is necessary?

We have surveyed consumers twice and both times they told us they felt misled to discover that assurance of beef cattle did not cover the whole of life. (A Red Tractor survey suggests 50% of customers believe beef is already lifetime-assured and 86% of consumers said they felt shocked, concerned or let down that it was not being delivered.)

See also: Beef farmers urged to share views on lifetime assurance plan

Interestingly, while there is some very vocal opposition from farmers, we are also finding some strong support for the proposals.

Beef farmers believe this move has been sprung on them with little warning. Is that the case?

No. All the key organisations in the beef supply chain such as National Beef Association, NFU, meat processors and retailers, sit on our beef and lamb sector board, where we have been discussing this issue for years.

We are now conducting a frank and open consultation, including three public meetings.

Do you accept the consultation launch could have been handled differently?

There is always a challenge in communicating to grass-roots producers. But this is why we involve a range of trade bodies at the start so they can relay information to their members.

What costs will this add?

Minimal. We expect the cost for suckler and store herds will be less than the current £150 annual charge for finishers. Suggestions that farmers will have to make big investments to upgrade to meet the standards are nonsense.

What benefits will farmers really see if they do sign up?

A beef assurance scheme with a firm foundation that can stand up to public scrutiny and support the British industry.

What do you fear will happen if Red Tractor fails to introduce these changes?

Beef assurance will continue to live on a knife edge. If we don’t make the decision ourselves it could be imposed on us almost overnight in the same way the 90-day residency rule for Scotch beef was stopped a little over a decade ago.

If farmers refuse to sign up, what will this mean for the future of the Red Tractor scheme for beef?

We will have to take stock but this is much more than simply putting our house in order. It’s about responding to the needs of consumers. We have asked them and they tell us they see little value in a scheme that does not cover the whole life of the animal.

How will you avoid damaging the assured market through shortage of stock?

The challenge is not as big as you might think. Even though the current rule is only 90 days we know that more than 30% of stock already spend all of their life on assured farms.

And a large proportion of cattle spend much more than the minimum 90 days. Of course we will have to manage the transition period to avoid any risk of shortage.

How quickly will lifetime assurance of beef be up and running?

It is self-evident this will require an extended implementation period over several years. But we need to take the first step to begin the journey. The consultation suggests that we start with a very simple register of cattle rearers.

No

Why are you against lifetime assurance – surely we need to offer more than a 90-day period to consumers?

We are not against voluntary lifetime assurance or any producer providing whole-life assured (WLA) beef and lamb if it suits them. Red Tractor already states more than 30% of cattle are lifetime assured.

If the demand and desire exists for WLA beef, and the retailers and processors lead by offering an incentive, that is fine.

This would give farmers the choice over whether they joined the Red Tractor assurance scheme.

The current proposal effectively leaves no choice. It is a consultation on delivery without a consultation on the principle.

You sit on the Red Tractor board for the NBA, why has lifetime assurance come as such a shock to farmers?

WLA and Red Tractor-refreshed standards imposed last October have been driven and engineered by the RTA Technical Advisory Committee.

While the NFU, two processors and a multiple retailer sit on this committee, until last Thursday (29 January) the NBA had not been offered a position or been invited to advise or contribute.

Other industries have to demonstrate that they comply with a set of standards and are checked on a regular basis. Why is this any different?

All assured and non-assured British beef and lamb producers must work to statutory and mandatory EU and UK legislation.

Cross-compliance requirements already include 24 different measures and conditions that cover everything from animal welfare to traceability to environmental matters, not to mention mandatory food chain declarations already provided at point of slaughter.

All of these obligations are monitored and inspected. This applies equally to non-assured and assured farmers.

Red Tractor argues that lifetime assurance is expected by consumers. Do you agree?

Red Tractor claims the consumers have no wish or desire for WLA lamb, yet the same consumers apparently do for beef. Red Tractor is yet to offer a logical explanation to support its claim on beef.

Has the Red Tractor assurance benefited the livestock sector?

The NBA generally supports the principle of Red Tractor and assurance.

Previous assurance measures have successfully delivered. Unfortunately, since the new standards imposed last October, and now WLA, many farmers consider the Red Tractor is going too far without adequate consultation for no measurable benefit.

What effect will this have on the livestock industry?

Many farmers will not find Red Tractor assurance financially justifiable for the size of their business.

Many large finishers have indicated they will not be able to keep their sheds full without non-assured cattle and a serious dip in the supply of finished cattle would inevitably occur.

What is your main objection – cost or red tape?

There is little or no legitimate, independently verifiable evidence being provided which indicates that there is a measurable or quantifiable benefit to either WLA or last October’s refreshed standards.

Neither is there any evidence that additional requirements will help sell one more kilogramme of beef at 1p/kg more. Neither is there any evidence that retailers will give further commitment guarantees to British when there is a cheaper alternative.

Lifetime assurance is under way in Scotland and Wales. Doesn’t this mean Scotland and Wales have a marketing advantage over their English counterparts?

We understand there are some special marketing schemes in Scotland and Wales that require whole-life assurance, but we believe it is not across the board.

The situation in the Republic of Ireland is very interesting as the assurance period is 60 days, with no plans to change it. Do you think some of our supermarkets are not going to sell Irish beef because of this?

What Red Tractor is proposing

The consultation sets out Red Tractor’s plan to deliver Whole Lifetime Assurance and recruit enough beef rearing units to supply finishers.

To recruit rearing units it proposes setting up a two-year Cattle Rearing Register (CRR). This may be offered as a free service.

After the two-year period, farmers could then:

1. Have their beef herd assured in the Cattle Rearing Scheme (CRS).
2. Sign up to have their whole farm assured with Red Tractor.
3. Drop out and cease supplying Red Tractor beef finishing units.

The implementation of the rearing scheme and register could be via

1. A batch system – meaning assured farmers can only buy cattle from other assured farms, CRS farms or CRR farms.
2. Individual animal system – assured farmers could buy assured and non-assured cattle but checking would have to be at point of sale.

Take part in Red Tractor’s consultation on lifetime assurance for beef online.