Providing antibiotic use data in the industry-led Electronic Medicines Book (eMB-Pigs) should be a requirement of the Red Tractor pork scheme says the NPA producer group.
While some farmers are reluctant to use eMB-Pigs, producer group members maintain there are no grounds for any further delay in making it a compulsory part of Red Tractor, just as it already is in relation to the Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) scheme for pigs.
Red Tractor pork board chair, Mike Sheldon, has also taken a positive stance on the issue, in response to a formal request for action by the producer group.
He said the new requirement could be recommended immediately and, subject to the agreement of the pork board, could be in place as a scheme requirement by the first quarter of 2017.
eMB Pigs is a UK-wide website developed by AHDB Pork and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), supported by Northern Ireland and the Scottish and Welsh levy bodies.Â