Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
478. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his Department’s actions to combat items being sold as Irish produce in supermarkets that do not have the Bord Bia logo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21192/24]
View answerThe Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Schemes are voluntary schemes operated by Bord Bia whose statutory role is to promote, assist and develop the marketing of Irish food and livestock and the production, marketing and consumption of horticultural produce. Not all Irish producers are members of these schemes.
The quality assurance schemes are built on best practice in farming and processing, food legislation, relevant industry guidelines and international standards, and are accredited under the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) standard No. ISO 17065:2012.
Product placed on the market by scheme members bearing the Bord Bia Quality Assurance logo means that the product has been produced / processed by Bord Bia certified members in accordance with the scheme criteria.
Produce with a different specification that may be on the market that does not meet the scheme requirements cannot carry the Bord Bia Origin Ireland Quality Mark.
Bord Bia has a defined process in place for logo approval on promotional materials. The Quality Assurance logo can only be used on advertising or promotional material where all products advertised or promoted have been certified as Bord Bia Quality Assured.
Bord Bia carry out retail audits all year to monitor the use of the logo in stores. My Department has no role in this process.
Around 50,000 farmers and over 100 meat processors are accredited to the voluntary Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes. Recent research carried out in 2023, by Bord Bia indicates that 77% of consumers are more likely to purchase fruit and vegetables that carry the Bord Bia quality mark. It therefore makes sense for producers and processors to join the scheme.
