Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. January 2025
    9. December 2024
    10. November 2024
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    14. August 2024
    15. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    16. July 2024
    17. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. March 2024
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    31. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    By Chloe RyanJune 9, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    June 9, 2025

    Poultry Business – 2025 Innovation supplement

    June 9, 2025

    Poultry Business – May 2025 issue

    May 15, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
Production

RHI audits must be fit for purpose

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanSeptember 18, 20172 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Pictured left to right: EFRA committee chairman Neil Parish MP, UFU member Dessie Patterson. Margaret Ritchie MP, UFU deputy President Victor Chestnut, UFU president Barclay Bell, and UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Ulster Farmers’ Union chief executive, Wesley Aston, has raised concerns about the current RHI pilot audits process saying that the ultimate audit process must be fit for purpose. The UFU has called for audits from the outset to allow those using the scheme legitimately to clear their name.  “It has taken far too long to get to this point and it is absolutely essential that these audits are thorough but fair,” said Aston. The comments were made after a UFU representative recently attended a pilot audit as an observer at the request of a member.

The pilot RHI inspections commenced on the 21st August and are being carried out by the company Ricardo, appointed by the Department for the Economy. Aston said that farmers signed up to the government scheme in good faith and DfE has a duty of care to ensure the audit process is unbiased.  “The audits must be carried out in such a way that those using the scheme legitimately will not be penalised.  Having observed one of these pilot audits taking place, we have written to DfE permanent secretary, Andrew McCormick, to express a number of concerns about the process.”

The UFU has encouraged DfE to be as transparent as possible about the audit process and to give consideration to the wording of questions.  “We want the audits to be a success. We want to see those using the scheme legitimately vindicated.  It would be an absolute disaster if a poorly designed audit process subjects those using the scheme in earnest to penalties and indeed more unjustified scrutiny and criticism,” said Aston.

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleMattessons Fridge Raiders harnesses Halloween for spooky promotion
Next Article Co-op beefs up farming investment with extension of Farming Pioneers programme
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Broiler Production

Broilers – a summer saga

June 12, 20253 Mins Read
Production

Comment: Preaching to the choir

June 11, 20253 Mins Read
Egg Production

Pullet power

June 11, 20258 Mins Read
Latest News

Ranjit Boparan buys out Hook2Sisters

June 16, 2025

Siemens partners with Entocycle to digitalise insect farming industry

June 16, 2025

RSPCA Assured to host free webinar on new laying hen welfare standards

June 16, 2025
Sponsored Content

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025

Maintain stable and continuous coccidiosis control amidst stocking density reductions

November 1, 2024
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.