EducationPhase 4Food assurance schemes

Food assurance schemes

EU law lays down stringent requirements guaranteeing the standards of all European products. In addition, EU quality schemes identify products and foodstuffs farmed and produced to exacting specifications.

The only EU enforced quality assurance schemes in the food industry are the certification of regional quality assurance in the European food industry (Council Regulations (EEC) 2081/92 and (EEC) 2082/92) and the framework for organic farming (Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91).

The main aim of quality assurance and certification schemes is to differentiate the included products from the rest of the production to obtain an increased market price as well as a marketing advantage.

Geographical indications and traditional specialities

In 1993 EU legislation came into force which provides for a system for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis. The geographical indications and traditional specialities highlights regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed. There are three separate schemes: •Protected Designation of Origin (PDO); •Protected Geographical Indication (PGI); •Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG). Under this system a named food or drink registered at a European level will be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU.

Geographical indications and traditional specialities

Producers who register their products for protection benefit from having a raised awareness of their product throughout Europe. This may in turn help them take advantage of consumers’ increasing awareness of the importance of regional and speciality foods.

The three schemes

Protected Designation of Origin - PDO: covers agricultural products and foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how.

Protected Geographical Indication - PGI: covers agricultural products and foodstuffs closely linked to the geographical area. At least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the area.

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed - TSG: highlights traditional character, either in the composition or means of production.

What products are covered by the schemes?

Most foods intended for human consumption are able to apply for registration including meat, dairy and fish products, honey, fruits and vegetables, beverages made from plant extracts, bread, pasta, pastries, cakes, biscuits and confectionary. Examples of other products which can also be registered under particular designations are as follows:•PDO and PGI – natural gums and resins, hay, essential oils, mustard paste, cork, cochineal, flowers and ornamental plants, wool, wicker, scutched flax, cotton and salt;•TSG – pre-cooked meals, prepared condiment sauces, soups and broths, ice cream and sorbets, chocolate (and other food preparations including cocoa).

Examples of registered foods

Cornish PastyMozzarella

Oscypek Tarta de Santiago

Other schemes

The schemes regarding geographical indications and traditional specialities operate in the market alongside an increasing number of public and private certification schemes.

Red Tractor – UK

The Red Tractor scheme was started by UK farmers, food producers and retailers and was launched in 2000. The Red Tractor scheme is a food assurance scheme which covers production standards developed by experts on safety, hygiene, animal welfare and the environment amongst other factors.

All suppliers in the Red Tractor food chain are inspected and certified by an independent professional body. The Red Tractor certifies that food has been produced to these independently inspected standards right across the food chain – from farm to pack.

Red Tractor

The Red Tractor logo on the pack means the food or drink has met these responsible production standards and is fully traceable back to independently inspected farms in the UK.

Multi-ingredient products must contain at least 95% Red Tractor certified ingredients to be labelled as Red Tractor products. Up to 5% non-Red Tractor ingredients are permitted to allow for minor ingredients such as seasoning, herbs and spices.

Processors are allowed to use the logo to highlight that the main ingredient is produced to Red Tractor standards, even if some of the other ingredients in the product are not from assured sources, for example the pork in a sausage. However criteria applies (e.g. the named ingredient must comprise at least 65% of the food).

Scheme Products covered

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Crops and Sugar Beet Scheme

Cereals, oilseeds, pulses and sugar

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Fresh Produce Scheme Fruit, vegetables and salad

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Poultry Scheme Chicken

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Pig Scheme Pig meat

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Dairy Scheme Milk

Red Tractor Assurance for Farms Beef and Lamb Scheme Beef and lamb

Red Tractor Assurance for Farm Meat Processing Scheme Beef and lamb, Chicken, Pork

Red Tractor Assurance Schemes

There are 'core' schemes (shown below) in six product sectors, all wholly owned by Red Tractor.

More information about Red Tractor can be found on:• http://www.redtractor.org.uk/home •http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/certification/docs/case9_en.pdf

Neuland – Germany

Neuland was established in 1988 as a private scheme, as an association for applying good animal practice and environmentally friendly livestock production. The goal of the scheme is to establish a quality orientated, animal and environment friendly livestock production on many farms across Germany. Neuland has a robust system of regulations and guidelines for producing meat which every single producer has to adhere to. The core emphasis in these guidelines is the principle of keeping animals as much as possible in their natural environment.

Animals covered by the scheme include pigs, cattle, broiler poultry, laying hens and sheep.

The typical chain is that animals are being sold for a fair price (for the producer), then slaughtered and finally marketed to specialty meat outlets, catering or restaurants.

Guidelines

There are specific guidelines for each animal, however generally guidelines consist of criteria concerning: •Livestock husbandry;•Feed;•Transport;•Livestock care;•Grassland usage;•Conversion of farms;•Control.

Guidelines – Pork production

There are many rules for pork producers to follow under the Neuland scheme, including: •Pork producers must convert the entire farm to Neuland condition and are not allowed to leave parts of it under conventional conditions. •In terms of feed only domestically produced feed is allowed, as this excludes the use of GMO or Soya feed and any growth enhancing supplements or antibiotics, which is prohibited as feed. •The upper limit of livestock for a Neuland producer is strictly regulated with a piglet producer only allowed to have 95 sows, whereas for pig fattening the upper limit is 650 fattening places. As well as benefiting the livestock (e.g. more space and more time for the producer to care for the livestock), this also prevents large scale producers joining the scheme and dominating it.

More information on Neuland can be found on:•http://www.neuland-fleisch.de/ •http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/certification/docs/case7_en.pdf