What is an assurance scheme?

Labels can be confusing. They may tell us that a product is part of an assurance scheme, but it can be difficult to find out what they really mean.

At the most basic level, a food label communicates ‘information beyond price.’ An assurance scheme certifies that the information being communicated about ‘particular characteristics of interest’ is accurate. As consumers, we are all familiar with the concept of supply and demand. Retailers may specify requirements for food products they sell in their store and start an assurance scheme to certify these requirements are met, or producers may establish their own criteria and start an assurance scheme.

Is organic food welfare-friendly?

Providing good conditions for livestock is one of the fundamental tenants of organic farming but, currently, organic schemes do not have specific requirements or standards concerning the welfare of livestock. Therefore, they lack a way of regulating or enforcing welfare. This is changing, however. The Soil Association, the largest organic certification body in the UK, is in the process of developing specific animal welfare criteria for on-farm welfare assessment. This should go a long way to reassuring consumers that their organic purchases are good for animal welfare too.

What products should I buy?

Many retailers now carry organic products or products from farm assured producers. By purchasing products from a certain brand or retailer, consumers are telling the retailer they approve of their standards. However, consumers can only communicate this information from the choices available, so if your current retailer does not supply welfare-friendly products it is important that you request they do so. Welfare organisations such as Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA now give awards to ethical retailers; see the links below for more information:

http://www.ciwf.org
http://www.rspca.org.uk