Here, NFU Cymru provides a brief summary on the current position of UK assurance schemes. This will be regularly updated as the situation develops.
Updated 25 March 2020:
It is important to remember that while we face challenging and uncertain times, we must continue to meet the standards which we are proud to produce to. Now more than ever, it is critical to ensure the reputation of our industry is maintained. Therefore, while assurance schemes are suspending inspections for the health and safety of everyone, members must ensure they continue to meet the standards required.
FAWL: As of Thursday 19 March, FAWL will temporarily extend the re-certification period from the existing 18 months to 21 months. This will effectively result in a rolling forward of all re-certification audits by three months. This action is line with guidelines published by the United Kingdom Accreditation Scheme (UKAS) for the delivery and management of extraordinary events and circumstances.During this period, FAWL will evaluate options for seeing whether there can be temporary, alternative methods for credible farm assessments, they will keep members and assessors fully informed of progress. For further information, click here.
Red Tractor: Red Tractor has temporarily suspended all physical inspections, across all schemes including the FSA and other enforcement bodies that Red Tractor have earned recognition arrangements with until further notice. This also includes unannounced audits. Red Tractor is working with certification bodies and UKAS to understand and develop processes to establish remote auditing. Red Tractor will communicate to scheme members when and how inspections move to a remote audit in due course. When the remote assessment is established, farms in high risk categories will be prioritised. Click here for further information. This does not affect your annual membership renewal of your certificate. You should seek to renew your certificate as normal.
For farmers seeking to join the Red Tractor scheme, Red Tractor cannot assure you without a physical assessment to ensure your business meets all required standards. An assessment of a new applicant needs the agreement of the Certification Body, assessor and farmer involved and that strict criteria will need to be imposed by the CB to protect the health of the assessor and the farmer. A Red Tractor inspection will go ahead in this circumstance but it is for the Certification Body to make the final decision and confirm the criteria.
Other schemes
Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processing Inspections: From 00:01am Wednesday 25 March, there will be suspension of all physical Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processing inspections and traceability challenges (TC) until further notice.
In order to maintain certification to the Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processing Scheme and/or to maintain a Red Tractor Licence, the certification body will, in accordance with UKAS requirements and in line with BRCGS, require that an announced remote assessment/TC takes place. Further information is available by clicking here.
FSA: The FSA continues to carry out inspections for high risk sites.
BRCGS: Assessments are being managed in a different way in the short term. Where certificates are likely to expire as a result of an audit postponement, guidance has been issued to certification bodies allowing for certificates to be issued following a remote 'virtual' audit of the sites. Click here to view further guidance.
RSPCA Assured: Assessments may be cancelled at short notice and will aim to reschedule as soon as possible. Click here for further information.
SALSA: Salsa will not be conducting any audits between 1 April and 30 April 2020. If your business is affected by this decision, please click here to follow the Extension to Certification Policy.
Leaf Marque: LEAF and LEAF Marque have taken the immediate decision to suspend all physical LEAF Marque audits and moving to a remote assessment phase, commencing Wednesday 25 March. Click here for their policy.
Lion Code: We are aware that Lion Code audits have temporarily been suspended. We will update as the situation develops, but if you have any concerns about your up and coming audit, please contact the certification body.
Organic Farmers & Growers: Inspections are currently being arranged as normal, in line with Defra advice. This situation is under continuous review. If you have any concerns, the OF&G team are operating as normal and will be available to take your calls. For further information, please click here.
Soil Association: From 18 March, the Soil Association has suspended physical inspections for two weeks. Inspectors will be in touch with members to confirm the cancellation and will look to establish a date to undertake a remote/desk-based inspection. For further details please click here.
Global Gap: Global Gap has published a statement online, which you can click here to read. This highlights that Global Gap is monitoring the situation closely and has taken action to manage potential health and business risks with its international operations. Their published emergency procedure for certification extension, found here, states that some regions where government travel restrictions are imposed may have their inspection/audit postponed. Global Gap standard extension is up to four months, however it has allowed up to eight months provided a remote audit can take place.