Cost of Farm Animal Supply
across the UK

# Farm Animal Supply Trade Body Accreditation

The primary regulatory frameworks governing farm animal supply in the UK include membership with bodies such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), and sector-specific schemes like the Feed Standards Assurance Scheme (FSAS) or British Retail Consortium (BRC) certification for feed and animal health product suppliers. These accreditations ensure that suppliers meet strict standards for product quality, traceability, and safety. For livestock medicines and veterinary products, suppliers must be registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) or hold appropriate merchant licenses. Meanwhile, organic feed suppliers require certification from bodies like the Soil Association or OF&G if they wish to supply producers certified to organic standards. Understanding which accreditations are relevant depends on the specific products involved—whether feed, medicines, equipment, or supplements—as different categories carry different requirements.

To verify a provider's credentials, you should ask for their accreditation certificates or check against the official registers maintained by the relevant bodies. The NFU and AIC publish member directories on their websites, while the VMD maintains a public register of licensed merchants and manufacturers. For feed suppliers, checking FSAS or BRC certification status is straightforward through those organisations' websites. It is worth verifying accreditation because it provides assurance that the supplier operates under third-party scrutiny, follows industry best practices, and maintains proper documentation and traceability systems. Accredited providers are also typically insured and bound by codes of conduct that offer recourse if standards slip, giving you meaningful protection as a purchaser. Without accreditation, you have far fewer guarantees about product provenance, quality control, or your rights if something goes wrong.

Accredited farm animal suppliers typically charge between 5 and 15 percent more than non-accredited competitors, reflecting