Poultry Passports training guidance

The Poultry Passport scheme is a UK-wide training framework developed to ensure consistent, high-quality training across the poultry sector. It supports compliance with Red Tractor assurance standards and legal requirements, particularly those introduced in 2007 for meat chicken producers.

The scheme reflects the scale and responsibility of a sector that rears more than a billion birds annually in the UK. 

Governed by British Poultry Training – a collaboration of sector bodies including the BPC, Lantra, NFU, Poultec Training and some of the major processors – the scheme is administered by Poultec Training who maintains the central training record system and verify qualifications. Each collaborator provides technical expertise regarding qualifications. They each represent the views of their membership to the BPT management group to help ensure that the scheme continues to meet industry needs.

However, the actual training can be delivered by any approved provider.

The UK chicken sector incorporated these into the Assured Chicken Production standards to demonstrate compliance with the 2007 legislation.

Later, the same standards were included in the Duck Assurance Scheme (from 2012) and the Quality British Turkey scheme (from 2016). The standards were then incorporated and implemented via the Red Tractor poultry schemes when ACP, DAS and QBT were brought under the Red Tractor umbrella. 

Red Tractor, in collaboration with Poultec Training, has produced a guidance document providing context to its standards related to the Poultry Passport scheme. See: Red Tractor Poultry Passport guidance 

The guidance is thorough but lengthy, as it sets out to answer a set of frequently asked questions about how to comply with the standards.

Red Tractor facilitates compliance with the Poultry Passport scheme on behalf of British Poultry Training.

In 2021, following stakeholder and public consultation, Red Tractor implemented version five of the poultry standards. These included the most recent updates, which introduced timelines for registration onto the scheme for new joiners to the poultry sector, as well as timelines for progression through the training programme.

The Poultry Passport scheme is a cornerstone of professional development in the poultry sector, which we should all be proud of.

It is a unique opportunity to demonstrate through structured, lifelong learning how seriously the sector takes all elements of poultry production, including bird welfare, safety and traceability.

A designated team, separate from Poultec Training’s training arm are the scheme administrators of Poultry Passport. They are responsible for the creation and maintaining of training records for registered members, on behalf of and under the direction of the British Poultry Training group. 

In addition to this, Poultec Training is an approved training provider for the Poultry Passport scheme. 

However, this operates separately to the administration of the scheme and no data is shared between the two.

All the information you need about the levels of the passport can be found at: poultrypassport.org | Passport levels

The level you need to attain will be determined by Poultec, as the administrators of the Poultry Passport scheme, and will be based on your job role and responsibilities. All of your training requirements will be listed on your dashboard once you are enrolled in the scheme.

There are two elements to the Poultry Passport scheme:

1. Diploma in Work-based Agriculture (Poultry Production) or equivalent.
   • This element is for multi-skill positions only (Passport levels 2 and 3).
   • The level of the diploma required is dependent on the role.
   • Once completed, the diploma is a lifetime qualification belonging to the person certified.
2. A programme of short courses on topics relevant to the production of poultry.
   • These courses are required for all roles at all levels
   • There are 5 – 7 short courses required, at differing levels, dependent on the role.
   • The short courses expire after five years, except for First Aid which expires after three years.
   • Expiration of short courses allows for refresher training to ensure that participants continue professional development throughout their employment, allowing them to stay updated on changes to best practice and legislation.

The level of certification you need to attain will be determined at the point of registration onto the Poultry Passport Scheme and will be based on your job role and responsibilities. All of your training requirements will be listed on your dashboard once you are enrolled in the scheme.

A full list of the minimum training requirements for each Poultry Passport Level is available via: Poultry Passport | Passport levels

The Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Work-Based Agriculture (Poultry production) are a requirement for all individuals occupying roles sitting at Level 2 (stockperson/multi-skilled operative) and Level 3 (assistant manager/manager) within the Poultry Passport Scheme respectively.

The short courses apply to all personnel (including but not limited to employees, self-employed, relief cover and family members) who must be trained and competent to carry out the required activities on farm or at sites relating to primary production. 

The standard applies to all poultry enterprises across all poultry schemes, including growers, free range, breeder layers, breeder replacements, hatcheries, enhanced welfare, poussin and catching and transport members.

The diploma is only relevant to those who sit at a Level 2 or above on the Poultry Passport scheme.

All new personnel must be enrolled onto the Poultry Passport scheme within six months of their first day with the business. Personnel with more than six months in the business must be able to demonstrate progression through the passport requirements. 

Red Tractor integrates Poultry Passport standards into its certification process and may grant extensions for training completion in justified cases. However, it is not a regulator and cannot exempt individuals from legal training requirements.

The short course training can be delivered by any Poultry Passport Scheme approved training provider. Businesses also have the option of designing their own training programmes and submitting them to the scheme administrators for accreditation and approval.

The Diploma in Work-based agriculture (poultry production) can be delivered by providers who are an approved City & Guilds centre. Details of centres who provide these qualifications can be found via City & Guilds.

The ‘Assessment First Route’ diploma has been designed for poultry workers who can demonstrate they are already sufficiently competent and will hopefully be welcomed by those with significant experience of working with poultry already.

The BPT management group acknowledged that a direct route to Diploma-level certification must be made available for producers with the necessary prerequisite knowledge and skills, such as those holding Grandfather Rights in terms of any legal obligation for training.

The ‘Assessment First Route’ is primarily designed to minimise the time and cost associated with certification for experienced poultry keepers, by removing the need to complete training sessions.

It is important to note that if a delegate is unable to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and/or competence at assessment, then reassessment will be required. Reassessment, and any additional training/teaching required may come at additional cost.

For further information, read: New assessment-only route offers faster poultry certification

Apprenticeships are a funded route to obtaining a Diploma in Work-based Agriculture (Poultry Production), subject to eligibility. Apprentices are required to attend online teaching sessions, have contact with their tutor monthly, and meet funding requirements for protected study time.

Apprentices will attend additional wider curriculum sessions, outside of poultry. Training in Maths and English can be included but this is optional for those over 19 years. The duration of an apprenticeship is between 12 and 18 months.

At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices complete an independent end point assessment.

Farming Connect can provide part-funding for the Diploma in Wales.

Registration is available via: poultrypassport.org | Poultry passport registration. It can take up to seven days for registration to complete.

Providing you have all the necessary information to hand, from start to finish, it should not take more than ten days to complete registration.

For more support, please speak to your certification body or training provider and/or contact NFU CallFirst.

Grandfather rights entitle individuals to operate to previous rules and regulations, even if those rules change.

With respect to training requirements, we understand from Defra that those with grandfather rights could be exempt from completing the Diploma due to the recognition of their lifetime experience.

However, producers who are members of Red Tractor (or any other farm assurance schemes) should check with their Certification Body what it means for those with grandfather rights and meeting its training requirements.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to apply for grandfather rights because Defra closed the scheme for new applications around June 2011. However, we know that some members will have previously applied for grandfather rights but might not be aware that they have them.

We are therefore encouraging members to check with the APHA for themselves and any staff members they may have. This can be done by contacting the APHA helpline on 03000 200 301 and following the options for the Poultry Register. You will need to provide your CPH number and ask if you are registered for grandfather rights. APHA should then be able to confirm whether anyone on your farm previously successfully applied for grandfather rights or not.