RSPCA Assured members are set to receive significantly more announced and unannounced visits to help restore the scheme’s credibility, following an independent review of the assurance scheme.
The scheme will also take steps to improve enforcement of schemes standards, including greater use of CCTV and body cameras.
The RSPCA commissioned leading audit and consulting firm, Crowe, to carry out an independent review into the scheme. A coalition of 60 campaign organisations and high-profile names, including comedian Ricky Gervais, actor Joanna Lumley and rock star Bryan Adams, called for the scheme to be scrapped, after undercover investigations at around 40 farms found what the campaigners claimed were serious welfare issues.
The RSPCA said it was reassured that the review found that the scheme is ‘operating effectively to provide assurance that animal welfare standards are being met across members’, but said it would respond to all 20 of its recommendations.
RSPCA said: “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.”
The development has come as the RPSCA is negotiating over the introduction of controversial new standards for egg producers, which were paused following a backlash from producers.
Gary Ford, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), said “good progress is at last being made” over the planned changes, which include a requirement for natural daylight and the introduction of verandas. Producers had argued the changes were costly and in some cases impossible to introduce.
Ford said that on issue that had been causing most of the upset, natural daylight, “the RSPCA indicated that they will join in the industry research being drafted on the impact of natural daylight on laying hens.”