Tesco pork group
Tesco pork group
SUPERMARKET giant TESCO is planning to set up a pork producers group, similar to those already operating in the red meat and poultry sector, with the intention of raising quality standards.
The retailer has already reached agreement with its pigmeat suppliers to implement its code of practice on pig welfare. And earlier this year it banned the use of sow stalls and tethers for all its fresh pork. It has pledged to extend this to all pigmeat products by next summer.
"The TESCO specifications for pig welfare build on the core standards of existing farm assurance schemes," says the company. "On-farm compliance is likely to be checked independently through the established auditing procedures of FABPigs and SPII. And discussions are already taking place with overseas suppliers to ensure pigmeat imports conform to the same standards." *