The aim is to ensure any employee who has concerns about animal welfare, but is unwilling to talk directly to his or her manager, will ring the Confidential Reporting Service.

It is thought unlikely there will be many calls — perhaps none in some years. Any calls that are made will be received and filtered by a specialist company.

It is envisaged that when genuine matters of concern are raised, a Red Tractor inspection will be triggered.

In proposing a Confidential Reporting Service, NPA's aim is to protect its members from malicious allegations by animal rights activists and to demonstrate the industry's high welfare standards to retailers and consumers.

"Those producers who sign up to the service will be doing so as a form of insurance and therefore it is assumed they will not be adverse to a Red Tractor spot check to demonstrate that everything is being conducted properly," said allied industry group chairman Peter Rollings.

But much remains to be done before a voluntary scheme can be introduced. Funding must be found, probably from BPEX, and Assured Food Standards' cooperation will be sought.