Farmers should expect more unannounced visits from RSPCA Assured 

RSPCA said that its independent review has found that the scheme is “operating effectively to assure animal welfare on member farms”. 

A total of 225 RSPCA Assured farm sites were randomly selected for unannounced visits, with 200 unannounced assessments completed, covering approximately 22.5 million individual animals on site at the point of inspection. 

Almost all of the assessed farms (93%) had less than five non-compliances out of a minimum of over 500 welfare standards per species.  

There were 294 total non-compliances across those sites. Many of these non-compliances were for minor or administrative issues and RSPCA said its team was working with these farms to remedy these areas. 

The report concluded that the findings from its unannounced programme of farms sampled were consistent with the results of standard scheme assessment visits, which suggests that “current assessment programme is detecting non-compliances and that there aren’t wider welfare issues”. 

Significant increase in farm visits 

RSPCA Assured said: “The findings from our own assessments and data, are consistent with the findings from the independent review.” 

The report includes 20 recommendations, and RSPCA Assured said it will be taking all of them forward, and has already started to implement changes as part of an ongoing improvement programme. 

The guidance includes a significant increase in the number of announced and unannounced visits to RSPCA Assured members as well as the development of an approach to identify potential concerns regarding farmer and stockkeeper welfare and investigate how this may impact upon animal welfare. 

RSPCA Assured is also set to be exploring the use of more technological aids, including additional CCTV and using body-worn cameras to aid identification of issues and improved enforcement of standards. 

The organisation has also developed a Target Operating Model (TOM) as part of its improvement programme to modernise the scheme.  

This provides a framework for managing the scheme effectively and its scope will be broadened to encompass governance and culture within the scheme. 

Last line of defence 

RSPCA said: “This review provides us, our supporters and the public further confidence that RSPCA Assured is actively improving the lives of millions of farmed animals.  

“We want a world where RSPCA Assured isn’t needed any more, but right now it is the last line of defence for far too many of the most vulnerable and exploited animals. 

“We have an ambitious modernisation programme for RSPCA Assured, which is already underway. This includes significantly increased unannounced visits and further exploring the use of technology – such as body worn cameras and CCTV – to give comprehensive and real-time welfare insights.” 

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