Prime minister Tony Blair has given his support to the National Farmers' Union attempt to relaunch its little red tractor farm assurance scheme.
The NFU wants to turn the tractor into a food industry funded and consumer-led scheme, in line with the recommendations of the Curry report.
But questions remain about how the development of the scheme will be funded.
The prime minister, speaking at the relaunch via a videolink, said: "For British consumers it means clarity and assurance about the food they are eating  whether from supermarkets or, increasingly I hope, in café³ and restaurants."
The tractor is an umbrella symbol covering 11 separate assurance schemes in six areas, including produce, crops and livestock. Under the existing tractor scheme, one farm could be regulated by as many as four or five schemes at up to £250 a time.
The NFU wants to bring the schemes under one body  creating Assured Food Standards mark ll. Standards and management of the existing schemes will be reviewed in consultation with the industry. In addition, the NFU is considering licensing the tractor logo to foodservice outlets.
>>p37 Analysis
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The NFU wants to turn the tractor into a food industry funded and consumer-led scheme, in line with the recommendations of the Curry report.
But questions remain about how the development of the scheme will be funded.
The prime minister, speaking at the relaunch via a videolink, said: "For British consumers it means clarity and assurance about the food they are eating  whether from supermarkets or, increasingly I hope, in café³ and restaurants."
The tractor is an umbrella symbol covering 11 separate assurance schemes in six areas, including produce, crops and livestock. Under the existing tractor scheme, one farm could be regulated by as many as four or five schemes at up to £250 a time.
The NFU wants to bring the schemes under one body  creating Assured Food Standards mark ll. Standards and management of the existing schemes will be reviewed in consultation with the industry. In addition, the NFU is considering licensing the tractor logo to foodservice outlets.
>>p37 Analysis
{{NEWS }}
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