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Guidance

Earned Recognition: FSA approved assurance schemes

Updated 29 June 2026

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/earned-recognition-fsa-approved-assurance-schemes/earned-recognition-fsa-approved-assurance-schemes

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). 

When an assurance scheme is approved, compliant members of that scheme are able to benefit from Earned Recognition on the basis that they are taking positive action to reduce risks and comply with legislative requirements, through a third-party certification process.

1. Approved assurance schemes

2. Agricultural Industries Confederation

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.

AIC has three schemes that are approved by us: 

  • 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

MOU for Agricultural Industries Confederation as PDF (686.61 KB)

3. Red Tractor Assurance

Red Tractor Assurance (RTA) is a whole chain assurance scheme which covers food safety, traceability, animal welfare and environmental protection.

RTA also operate a licensing scheme for food businesses who wish to make a Red Tractor claim. Further information on RTA licencing requirements can be found on their website. 

RTA has six schemes that are approved by us:

  • Beef & Lamb
  • Crops & Sugar Beet
  • Dairy
  • Fresh produce
  • Pigs
  • Poultry

RTA operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with the FSA. 

England, Northern Ireland and Wales

MOU for Assured Food Standards (Red Tractor) as PDF (11.1 MB)]

Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS) operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with FSA Northern Ireland.

4. Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) is an Executive Non Departmental Public Body, established under the 1967 Livestock Marketing Commission Act. It serves as the statutory body responsible for supporting, promoting and assuring the quality of Northern Ireland’s beef and sheep meat sectors.

LMC has one scheme that is approved by us:

LMC operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with FSA in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland

MOU for Livestock & Meat Commission Earned Recognition Aug 2016 (535.08 KB)

5. Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers

Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers Ltd, (Opens in a new window)(WLBP) is a farmer-controlled agricultural co-operative society of over 7,000 Welsh Farmers. WLBP strives to strengthen consumer confidence by providing assurance of farm standards through the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (FAWL) Scheme.

WLBP has one scheme that is approved by us:

WLBP, operates to a Memorandum of Understanding with FSA in Wales.

Wales

MOU for Welsh Lamb and Beef for Earned Recognition Dec 2017 as PDF (3.45 MB)

6. Approved assurance scheme verification

To ensure continued compliance and confidence after approval of an assurance scheme for earned recognition, we verify compliance with our criteria for earned recognition.

Enforcement authorities check a percentage of assurance scheme members to verify business compliance. These verifications enable us to have confidence in the assurance scheme and their approved scheme status.

7. Enforcement Authority Exception Reporting

When an enforcement authority removes Earned Recognition from a business, they should notify the FSA as soon as possible using the exception report form.

This information is important in helping us carry out our verification role of approved assurance schemes.

7.1 England, Northern Ireland and Wales

FSA for Feed Earned Recognition exception report for enforcing authoritiesas Word(Open in a new window)

Read our exception reports privacy notice.

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