This week sees the launch of the new Red Tractor assurance checkers on the ABM website allowing the industry to verify the whole beef and lamb assurance chain. There are now dedicated areas for checking assured farms, vehicles, markets/collection centres and abattoirs/cutting/packing plants.
"Both the Red Tractor and EBLEX Quality Standard mark now require beef and lamb to be assured throughout the whole chain," said Ian Frood, ABM Chairman. "ABM has developed this service to protect the integrity and credibility of these consumer marks by helping the industry ensure only eligible beef and lamb is labelled with them."
This free, simple to use system means processors and buyers can complete all their English farm and supply assurance chain checks at one site, saving time and resources hunting down the information. New to the service is the inclusion of data relating to additional holdings covered under a farm membership, an enhanced livestock transport checker containing both commercial hauliers and cattle, sheep and pig farm vehicles together with downloadable lists of both ABM assured livestock markets/collection centres and ABM assured abattoirs.
Within each dedicated sector area there is a sector specific 'About the Checker' page providing extra information on using the service. In addition, the farm and transport areas also include a 'Helpful Hints' page and their own specific detailed User Guides. Existing users are able to use the new checkers immediately whilst new users will be promoted to visit the Registration page to apply for free access.
Since the launch of the English beef and lamb farm assurance checker in January 2006 it has become an essential resource in realising and maintaining the credibility of English beef and lamb farm assurance. This year alone over 225,000 individual checks on farmers assurance status have been made through the ABM Checker.
ABM hopes the new system will prove beneficial and continue to be a valuable resource for the beef and lamb industry.
