Proposed Changes to Red Tractor Farm Assurance Dairy Standards to be introduced with effect from 1 st October 2011.

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1 Proposed Changes to Red Tractor Farm Assurance Dairy Standards to be introduced with effect from 1 st October Black Text = existing wording Red Text = new wording. In some cases a new standard with a new number is proposed, in other cases simply modified text is proposed Standard No: The section preface is amended to clarify the definition of an outdoor tank or silo. MS Addition to Section preface. All silos and bulk tanks located outside must be designed for outdoor use. The Dairy standards TR.1 12 apply when a tank suitable for outdoor use is located in and enclosed / covered area. Additional detail on expectations around inlet / tanker hook-up points. MS.2 K Detail The silo must be located in a clean environment with clean and cleanable access points. The silo must be located on a drained concrete pad in a clean environment. Farm wastes (eg dirty water, effluents) must drain away from the silo area. It must not be located close to potential sources of foul smells (eg slurry stores) and air inlets for venting the silo must be fitted with a suitable filter to prevent contamination. The entry / exit points to the silo, including sampling points, must be clean. Typically these will be enclosed in a cabinet or brought back into a building with the vicinity kept to standards expected of a conventional dairy tankroom. There must be a suitable means of maintaining the equipment and facilities in clean condition (eg ready access to a hose/power washer and suitable supply of clean water). Additional guidance added to recommend that tanks have temperature recorders incorporated. MT.1 Additional guidance The bulk tank (including external silos) and any ancillary equipment must be capable of cooling the milk to the required temperature. Whilst the common practice in the UK is to cool milk to 4 o C, the regulations require that milk is cooled to one of the following temperatures according to the milk collection routine in place: Milk Collection Routine Statutory Temperature Requirement Every Day Collection 8 o C, or lower Alternate Day Collection 6 o C, or lower The requirements of the milk purchaser, as specified in the contract between the supplier and the purchaser, may require that milk is cooled to a lower temperature than quoted above and takes precedence. Milk temperature must be checked after each milking, before the dairyman leaves the premises. Ensuring the temperature gauge is in working order and clearly visible will assist with these checks as will reviewing temperatures indicated on tanker tickets. It is recommended that tanks are fitted with a temperature logger so that the initial rate of cooling and maintenance of this lower temperature can monitored and reviewed. It is likely that this will become scheme requirement for new tanks from April 2013, and for older tanks to be retro-fitted sometime thereafter.

2 New recommendation to reduce the risk of cooling or hygiene problems arising. MT.5 R New Recommendation It is recommended the all bulk tanks (including external silos) are serviced at least one per year to ensure effective cooling and washing functions. This typically is a standard component of bulk tank maintenance contracts provided by equipment suppliers and engineers, and is often required for insurance purposes. MI.7 K Although inherent in existing standards and covered in Milk Purchaser contracts, this new standard more explicitly identifies when milk is not suitable to be sold for human consumption. All milk sold for human consumption must come from healthy cows. New Standard Detail Legislation specifies that milk must come from animals Not showing symptoms of infectious disease communicable to humans through milk; That are in a good general state of health, present no sign of disease that might contaminate the milk, and in particular, are not suffering from any infection of the genital tract with discharge, enteritis with diarrhoea and fever, or a recognisable inflammation of the udder; That do not have any udder wound likely to affect the milk; To which no unauthorised substances or products have been administered and that have undergone any illegal treatment; And, for authorised products and substances, that prescribed withdrawal periods have been observed. In particular milk must come from animals that are free from TB and Brucellosis. Milk from confirmed TB reactors from the point of veterinary diagnosis must not be consigned for human consumption. Milk from cows diagnosed as inconclusive can go into the bulk tank, though if subsequent tests still prove inconclusive, the animal will be treated as a reactor. A protocol for actions to take with TB reactors is included within the Herd Health Plan (AH.3 ). Added guidance that datasheets are also available online CM.5 Chemicals and cleaning agents must have relevant data sheets available for use. Data sheets for all dairy chemicals and cleaning agents used for the milk production process must be available at all times. Copies are generally provided by or available on request from the chemical supplier, or they may be downloaded from the manufacturers website. Updated detail to include new test standard for Automatic ( robotic ) Milking Units and added guidance to encourage dynamic as opposed to static testing. ME.1 detail The milking machine must be tested according to the manufacturers recommendations with a test certificate available to confirm this action. It is required that the milking machine is inspected and at least statically tested. The regularity of such is according to manufacturers instructions or at least

3 annually. The test certificate must state the BS Standard to which the machine has been tested. New milking machines must be installed and tested to the must up-to-date standards. [For conventional systems, this currently is BS ISO 6690 & 5707 (1996) and for Automatic Milking Units is BS ISO (2007)]. Where older milking machines have been installed and tested to an earlier standard that was applicable at that time [eg BS 5545 (1988)], it is acceptable for these standards to continue to be applied. Where older systems are substantial upgraded, the latest standards would be applicable. In addition to the annual test, the milker or other competent person must carry out regular checks on all gauges and the vacuum regulator at each milking, and must avoid under- or over- milking. Evidence of activities undertaken will be sought by the assessor, such as the test report and milking machine manual. Such documentation must be made available at the time of the farm assessment. Whilst the current minimum requirement is an annual static test, it is recommended that producers have a dynamic test carried out during milking which is more comprehensive and pre-empt a wider range of problems. Detail of standard amended to clarify limited circumstances when warranty is acceptable, supported with more robust feed warranty letter and updated grain passport within revised appendix. FW.6 Detail (see separate document) All other purchased fed materials must be sourced from suppliers certified by the AIC Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS), the Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FeMAS) or an approved equivalent, other appropriately assured farms or, in specific circumstances, with a suitable warranty. This standard includes all feed materials supplied as co-products from the biofuels industry, e.g. distillers dried grains & solubles (DDGS), rapeseed meal. The purchase of cereals from a crop assured farm must keep a copy of the grain passport and assurance sticker which will accompany all deliveries. For other farm to farm transactions, a warranty declaration may suffice to ensure traceability is maintained when purchasing: - Cereals/pulses from a non crop-assured farms (grain passport also required) - Feeds materials or feeds, including farm-produced blends* - Forage crops (eg hay & silage but excluding straw) - Roots and root by-products (which have not been processed beyond basic grading and washing) - Crops in-situ (excluding grazing and straw). * - this should only be for feed or feed materials that are home produced or unexpectedly surplus to the sellers own requirements. Where feeds and feed materials are purchased with the intent of resale directly or as an ingredient within a farm-produced blend, the seller must be a certified to one of the feed assurance schemes as a Merchant or Compounder. (Nb with these definitions, purchasers should be aware that a warranty letter would be invalid for large quantities or regular supplies of feeds or feed materials that were not completely home-grown

4 on the seller s farm) The other very limited circumstances in which a warranty declaration is acceptable are - Forages supplied via a merchant (eg hay & silage but excluding straw) - Roots and root by-products from a vegetable processor/packer which have not been processed beyond basic grading and washing. It the material has been processed further in any way, (eg potato waste from chip or crisp manufacturers), the seller must be certified to a relevant feed assurance scheme such as FEMAS. The relevant appendix provides details and a suitable template for a warranty declaration. The document will confirm that the feed is wholesome and fit for purpose, and that the supplier and any third party haulage complies with all current feedingstuffs legislation (including Local Authority Registration as required) and thereby ensure that every reasonable precaution has been taken to keep the feed material free from contamination. Details of certified merchants may be found on the AIC website - Details of equivalent schemes are given in the relevant appendix. FW.6.1 R New Recommendation New recommendation to promote the purchase of cereals only from other assured farms. When purchasing cereals/pulses from another farm, it is recommended that the supplying farm is a member of a recognised farm assurance scheme. Recognised farm assurance schemes include any Red Tractor Farm Assurance Scheme, NIBL FQAS, FAWL, QMS, SQC, NIFQAC and Genesis Quality Assurance. Upgraded from recommendation to full standard as previously signalled. FW.10 Standard Detail / Guidance AM.11 Detail When mobile feed mixers and millers are used, they must be certified to the NAAC Assured Land Based Contractor (Mobile Feed Mixing and Processing) Scheme or a scheme deemed equivalent by AFS. This requirement applies to all contract feed processing and mixing operations. Details of the NAAC scheme and it s members may be found at Example measures for managing incoming stock included in detail. Appropriate biosecurity measures must be planned and implemented to minimise the spread of disease within the farm and between other farms. The measures will include management of incoming stock (eg quarantine, purchasing from herd of known health status), housing and equipment, farm visitors and vehicles. Consideration should be given to both measures adopted routinely and measures that would be implemented in the event of a disease outbreak. The biosecurity measures must be documented either as a separate Farm Biosecurity Policy or as an element within the health plan. As a minimum there must be a suitable disinfectant available on the farm together with any necessary equipment to undertake the cleaning and disinfecting of boots/clothing, vehicles and facilities if required. See relevant appendix.

5 Specific detail relating to the transport of calves added. LT.7 K Detail Animals must not be transported unless they are fit for the intended journey. Unfit animals, must not be transported unless, in certain circumstances, under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. Animals becoming unfit during transport must be delivered as soon as possible to a suitable place for unloading or slaughter. Unfit to travel includes ill, injured or casualty stock. Animals that are likely to give birth must not be transported. Legislation states that calves under seven days old must not be sold through a market; calves/lambs with an unhealed navel must not be transported; calves/lambs must also not be sold through a market more than twice in any 28 day-period up to 12 weeks of age. Further guidance on determining fitness to travel and where veterinary advice is required is given in the relevant appendix. Standard revised to include reference to soil conditioners. The scope of the detail and appendix cover a wider range of materials that may be applied to land and any key regulations surrounding their use. EC.10 K Standard Detail Fertilisers and soil conditioners (including manure and composts) must be applied to agricultural land in ways that prevent pollution, contamination and spread of disease. Application of manures, sludges, anaerobic digestates, composts and other materials provides a valuable source of nutrients or soil conditioning but they might also cause pollution of the local environment, or contamination of crops or livestock. Producers should consider soil type, crop requirements, slope, field conditions, grazing or planting intervals and the position of surface waters and water supplies. Regulations apply and, in designated areas, NVZ regulations impose additional restrictions. The application of waste abattoir material (with the exception of lairage manure) that has not been treated in any way is not permitted on any agricultural land including grassland and forage crops. Full advice on the requirements of this standard can be found in the. Fertiliser application to grazing or forage conservation land must follow current legislation and the Defra Code Protecting our Water Soil and Air (or equivalent documents in devolved regions). Producers must avoid the over-application of nutrients from fertilisers, slurries and manures. The application of human sewage sludge must comply with legislation and follow the Defra Code of Practice for Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge which incorporates the "Safe Sludge Matrix". Recycled organic materials (any animal or vegetable matter including paper and card) originating outside the holding must not be applied to land unless it is specifically allowed by this standard. A range of inorganic materials may be offered for use or disposal on agricultural land. If in doubt check with the Environment Agency, SEPA or NIEA. FW.6 feed warranty letter with more robust obligations (eg adherence to Feed Hygiene legislation) and clearer indication when such a warranty is acceptable. See attached

6 Health Plan Template slightly revised to incorporate a protocol for dealing with milk from TB reactors. HF.3 The relevant detail for this section is as below - Actions for Dealing with Confirmed TB Reactors Isolate confirmed reactor animals pending removal from the farm Clearly identify reactor animals, eg with marker spray, tail tapes Milk reactor animals last and thoroughly clean equipment after use Discard milk completely exclude from bulk tank and do not feed to calves If disposing of milk via direct land speading, apply a grazing interval 6 months recommended. EC.10 Updated details of permitted materials and requirements for applications of fertilisers and soil conditioners to land. See attached