Earned Recognition - approved assurance schemes
Earned Recognition aims to reduce the burden for compliant businesses which allows enforcement activity to concentrate on less compliant businesses. Those who qualify for Earned Recognition will benefit by receiving less frequent visits by the enforcement authority.
We have introduced a reduced inspection frequency (earned recognition) for compliant businesses who are members of FSA approved assurance schemes in the areas of primary production (2006), dairy hygiene (2011), and animal feed (2014).
Approved assurance schemes
Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works on behalf of members in the agricultural supply sector. AIC represents a variety of sectors within the feed industry and manages several assurance schemes.
We approved the following assurance schemes:
- Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
- Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC)
- Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
AIC operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with the FSA, Food Standards Scotland and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Approved Assurance Schemes in feed and food sectors
Red Tractor Assurance (RTA) is a whole chain assurance scheme which covers food safety, traceability, animal welfare and environmental protection.
The RTA logo can be applied to food products to show that businesses in that supply chain have met RTA standards and that products are fully traceable back to independently assessed farms.
RTA has six schemes that are approved by us:
- Beef & Lamb
- Crops & Sugar Beet
- Dairy
- Fresh produce
- Pigs
- Poultry
We operate to a Memorandum of Understanding with Red Tractor in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS) operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with FSA Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland
Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers Ltd, operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with FSA Wales
Wales
Enforcement Authority Verification
To ensure continued compliance and confidence after approval of an assurance scheme for earned recognition, we will continue to verify compliance with our criteria for earned recognition.
This includes a check carried out by enforcement authorities which is based on a percentage of assurance scheme members to verify business compliance. Positive verification will enable the FSA to have continued confidence in the assurance scheme and the ability to justify approved scheme status.
Enforcement Authority Exception Reporting
Feed sector only
When an enforcement authority becomes aware that a feed business will lose Earned Recognition, they are required to notify the FSA as soon as possible using the appropriate exception report form. This information is important in helping us carry out our verification role of approved assurance schemes.
England and Wales
Enforcement authorities will need to email the exception report, for England to exceptionreports@food.gov.uk and for Wales lasupportwales@food.gov.uk
England and Wales
Northern Ireland
Email the exception report in Annex 12 of the Feed Law Enforcement Guidance Document to executive.support@food.gov.uk
Revision log
Published: 16 May 2018
Last updated: 10 July 2024