Greens unhappy at logo standards


14 June 2000



Greens unhappy at logo standards


CONSERVATIONISTS want farmers to adopt tougher environmental standards before they can use the new British Farm Standard logo on their produce.

The tractor logo, which guarantees hygiene, welfare and some environmental standards and seeks to promote British food, was launched on Tuesday (13 June).

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said it was unhappy that many assurance schemes do not require farmers to protect landscape and encourage plants and wildlife.

Farmers do have to comply with laws on pesticides and fertilisers to be eligible to use the standard, reports The Times.

RSPB agricultural policy Hannah Bartram called on the farming industry to “go that extra mile” to ensure that the logo is only used by farmers producing concrete environmental benefits.

The National Farmers Union hopes that the logo, which shows a red tractor with blue wheels, will become one of Britains biggest brands.

The logo will appear initially on 100 fresh food product lines, carried by 10 major retailers at 4800 stores across the country.

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