Farmers on Get IPPC Help from SAI Global

UK - Food and farm assurance company, SAI Global, has announced that it has been appointed to deliver the IPPC Pig and Poultry Assurance Scheme on behalf of the Environment Agency (EA).
calendar icon 25 February 2010
clock icon 3 minute read

The Scheme has been in development for more than two years and enables those farm units defined as low risk by the EA to receive assurance style data collection visits from an SAI Global Farm Assurance Assessor, instead of annual inspections by EA.

It will enable participating pig and poultry farms to save time and money through a reduction in the number of visits and subsistence charges from the EA. It is estimated that the net benefit to farmers should be around £500 annually.

SAI Global will collect data relating to the unit's IPPC permit which will then be assessed by the local Environment Officer. Providing all is in order the EA will only need to visit once in every three years.

Chris Reading, UK Operations Manager for SAI Global, said: "By choosing SAI Global to collect this environmental information farmers can rest assured that they are getting the same professionalism and practicality as in our approach to farm assurance. In addition to saving time and money, there are even greater savings to be made if we can coordinate the EA visit with the annual farm assurance assessment. Although the scheme is not mandatory, the savings are clear."

The Environment Agency is writing to all eligible farms in February and the key date to remember is 19 March 2010, by when they need to have an agreement in place with SAI Global to achieve the savings.

Mr Reading added: "Our assessors have worked closely with the Environment Agency to make sure we gather the right information. While we may be conducting the visit, the farm's first point of contact with regard to IPPC and all other environmental matters remains their local Environment Officer."

Further information on the Environment Agency's role in the Scheme is available from their Customer Service line on 08708 506 506.

For an application to join the scheme, contact SAI Global on 01908 249973.

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