Which regulators affect your farm?

Farm management software provides you with the tools to track and record information, required by government regulations. It also automatically builds compliance documents for you. You need to have evidence for all measures regarding your farm operation. Without complete documentation, you may not be able to prove you are meeting the requirements of certain regulatory bodies. Each regulator has different standards that need to be met, to get their approval. 

Involuntary regulations 

Food Standards Agency 

An independent government department in the United Kingdom, the FSA is responsible for protecting public health concerning food. Its main role is to ensure that food is safe to eat and is correctly labelled and packaged. The FSA sets and enforces food safety and hygiene standards for all food businesses in England and Wales, from primary production through to retail and catering. It provides advice to consumers on food safety and nutrition, and it conducts research to support its work. They also enforce food labelling laws, including allergen labelling, and it monitors and reports on food incidents and outbreaks of foodborne illness. 

Food Standards Scotland 

With a similar role to the FSA, the FSS is a Scottish public body that is responsible for protecting public health concerning food in Scotland. The main difference is jurisdiction, as the FSA is for England and Wales, whereas the FSS is just for Scotland. 

Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland 

With the Brexit situation causing concerns in Northern Ireland, there are some differences in food safety standards. Northern Ireland still has access to the single market, and therefore needs to follow regulations in line with the EU. The FSANI does functionally the same job as the FSA, but specifically for Northern Ireland.   

Voluntary regulations 

British Retail Consortium 

One of the key activities of the BRC is the development and maintenance of industry standards for food safety and quality, which are known as the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety. These standards are recognized globally, and companies can choose to be certified by them to demonstrate that they meet certain standards for food safety, quality, and legality. 

Red Tractor Assurance 

The scheme is run by the non-profit organization Assurance Schemes, which is governed by an independent board of farmers, processors, and retailers. The Red Tractor logo is a mark of assurance that a product has been produced to high standards of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection. The logo is a voluntary certification, and companies can choose to be certified by Red Tractor to demonstrate that their products meet these standards. 

Fairtrade certification 

The Fairtrade certification scheme sets standards for fair trade in areas such as wages, working conditions, and environmental protection. These standards are based on International Fairtrade standards, which are set by Fairtrade International.