The RSPCA has announced it is reviewing its farm assurance scheme following the resignation and criticism of several high-profile supporters.
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May quit as the RSPCA’s vice president in late September for not taking strong enough action against members found to have allowed poor practices on their farms. Undercover investigations by activists found what Sir Brian called “damning evidence” of animal welfare failings.
Shortly after wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham, president of the RSPCA, said he may also resign, saying there was no justification for the charity to endorse animal agriculture at all.
RSPCA responded by announcing a review into the scheme. The RSPCA said it had “different views from Brian on how best to approach this complex challenge”.
The organisation is also facing pressure from its egg producer members over proposed changes to standards.
Plans were announced last November to introduce new requirements including installing verandas on barn buildings and a requirement for natural daylight, but quickly faced a backlash from members, who said the changes would be costly, and in some cases impossible to implement.
In January, RSPCA made some concessions, for example it amended the scope of the standards, extending the timeline for natural daylight by one year to 1 January 2031, and removing the veranda requirement for refurbished and new member free-range systems.
However other parts of the new standards are due to come into effect on 1 February 2025. Gary Ford, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) said he was concerned that the new deadline was fast approaching and “the frequency of engagement has been lacking and apart from the delay in implementing the standards, we have, at the time of writing, had few meaningful or tangible outcomes.
“1 February, with Christmas in between, is starting to feel very close and time is running out,” he said.
RSPCA Assured has been contacted for comment.