Welsh Government Recognises Value of PfL Certification
Recognising the value of PfL certification
A positive step for farmers in Wales
Welsh Government’s decision to recognise Pasture for Life certification within the Sustainable Farming Scheme is welcome news for our certified producers in Wales. It also represents something more significant: recognition that the work farmers undertake through PfL certification has value beyond our own scheme.
What is the news?
For 2026, PfL Certified Producers participating in SFS can declare their certification as evidence that they have met the ‘Measure’ and ‘Plan’ requirements of the Animal Health Improvement Cycle under Universal Action 12. Other applicable UA12 requirements, including animal welfare requirements and the Biosecurity Assessment for Incoming Stock, still need to be completed.
What is the impact?
The immediate benefit is practical. Farmers and vets should not have to repeat equivalent work simply because it sits under different schemes. Where existing assurance processes provide suitable evidence, recognising that evidence makes sense. It respects farmers’ time and allows more attention to be directed towards putting plans into practice.
But this announcement also matters for the standing of PfL certification.
Certification depends on trust: trust that standards are meaningful, that assessment is consistent, and that certification provides credible evidence of what happens on a farm. Welsh Government’s willingness to accept PfL certification for these specific requirements is a tangible indication that our scheme has a role to play in delivering public policy objectives.
This is recognition with a defined scope. It does not mean that PfL certification meets every SFS requirement, or that the Welsh Government has endorsed every aspect of our standards.
Nevertheless, accepting certification as evidence within a government scheme is significant. It demonstrates that PfL assurance can serve a practical purpose beyond communicating farming practices to customers.
For our producers, that matters. The effort involved in certification—maintaining records, reviewing animal health and demonstrating compliance—deserves to be recognised. This agreement gives that work an additional purpose and reinforces the value of being certified.
It also points towards a more joined-up approach to agricultural policy. Farm assurance and government schemes often ask farmers to evidence related activities. Better alignment can reduce administration while retaining the checks needed to support animal health and welfare. The aim should be to make evidence useful across schemes wherever appropriate, while keeping requirements clear.
What's next?
Longer-term arrangements covering animal health planning and biosecurity are being developed with the Welsh Government for 2027 onwards. That creates an opportunity to build on this first step and ensure that recognition works effectively for producers.
For PfL, this is both an achievement and a responsibility. Recognition strengthens the case for our certification while reinforcing the importance of maintaining a scheme that farmers, customers and public bodies can trust.