Food product and producer sustainability

Tower Hamlets has a policy to support Fair Trade growers and producers. All products supplied to and on behalf of Tower Hamlets have to be Fair Trade accredited where possible.

For produce produced in the UK, it is required that, wherever possible, produce bearing the Red Tractor accreditation is sourced.

Red Tractor is the assurance mark of Assured Food Standards (an organisation parented by National Farmers' Union of England and Wales) that promotes and regulates food quality in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The Red Tractor quality mark comprises a number of farm assurance schemes for food products, animal feed and fertilizer. For fish, the MSC (Marine Conservation Society) accreditation of sustainability is required.

Eggs are quality assured using the Lion Mark - all eggs that carry the British Lion mark have been produced under the stringent requirements of the British Lion Code of Practice which ensures the highest standards of food safety.

The code covers the entire production chain and ensures strict food safety controls including the guarantee that all hens are vaccinated against Salmonella and a 'passport' system ensuring that all hens, eggs and feed are fully traceable.

Other food accreditations will be accepted by Tower Hamlets provided they offer the same assurances as the examples listed above.

Useful links

Further information on the organisations named above and their accreditations can be found at:

• Fair Trade
• Red Tractor
• Marine Conservation Society
• British Lion Eggs