One of these attributes is certifications, so users can see which industry certifications a product holds. And in this series we explore the range of certifications you can add to an Erudus product specification, and what they mean.

So far we’ve covered

• BRCGS
• Red Tractor
• British Lion
• SALSA
• RSPCA Assured
• MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) Certified
• Fairtrade
• Quality Meat Scotland
• LEAF Certification
• Farm Assured Welsh Livestock Certification
• ISO 14001 Certification
• Food for Life Supplier Scheme Certification
• Rainforest Alliance Certification
• Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Certification

This time the spotlight is on Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme Certification...

What is Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Certification?

Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance (NIBL FQAS) certification is a certification scheme used by meat-producing businesses to prove the high quality of their beef and lamb and communicate this quality to consumers.

It is one of the longest standing farm quality assurance schemes worldwide, and operates as an equivalence to Great Britain’s Red Tractor Assurance Scheme.

The Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Certification scheme uses NIFCC (Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification), an independent certification body to verify candidates meet the required standards and award certification.

The Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland own the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme. This ownership is on behalf of the beef and sheep meat industry.

Why was Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance certification introduced?

The Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme was introduced to ensure Northern Ireland farm quality - factors such as production methods, animal care and farm environment. Its implementation and development guarantees consumers beef and lamb that is safe, ethical and high-quality.

When was the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance scheme introduced?

The Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance scheme was established in 1991 and launched the following year. As well as being owned by the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC), it has been managed by the organisation for over 25 years.

What is the aim of Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Certification

The main aim behind the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance scheme is “to give consumers assurance about the high quality of beef and lamb produced in Northern Ireland.”

What is the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance mark?

Beef and lamb products that have been produced in line with Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance (NIFQA) standards and certified as such can carry the green and black NIFQA mark, to demonstrate the quality of the production methods, farm environment and animal welfare in the supply chain.

Because NIFQA operate to the equivalent of Red Tractor, meat retail labels going to Great Britain will have the Red Tractor logo, and in Northern Ireland the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance logo will be present.

Who do Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance work with?

The Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance scheme works mainly with farms, but they are involved in many areas of the supply chain. They work with:

• Animal feed suppliers
• Livestock markets
• Collection centres
• Livestock hauliers
• Abattoirs
• Cutting and packing plants

Over 90% of all beef produced in Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assured.

What are Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance standards?

Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance standards for certification are set by a Standard Setting Committee made up of various LMC stakeholders.

The standards cover the following areas:

• Animal husbandry
• Stockmanship and welfare
• Animal health
• Animal nutrition
• Animal traceability- identification, sourcing and records
• Housing and handling
• Transport
• Environmental care and farm procedures

More can be found out about the rules and standards here.

The standards seek to ensure that the meat is ethically produced and protects the high standards of environmental care required by law in the Northern Ireland countryside.

The NIBL FQA scheme also requires that beef and lamb is traceable.

Another important aspect of the scheme is that it offers consumers confidence that the beef and lamb they purchase is fully traceable. All cattle need to be traced through the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS), Northern Ireland’s centralised system for the management of animal health and traceability, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

How do Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance ensure standards are being met?

The Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance scheme’s standards are consistently updated and revised to meet the changing needs of the market and regulatory developments.

To ensure members are abiding by the strict Standards and Rules, farms are inspected by an independent certification body, the Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification (NIFCC), every 18 months. 5% of scheme members are also subject to random spot checks once a year.

Why should businesses get Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance certification?

There are many benefits of getting Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance. These include:

• Increasing amounts of retailers now require Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb (be that Red Tractor or NIBL FQA)
• FQA Sheep typically receive £1 more per head than non-quality assured stock in the marketplace.
• Use of the Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance certified logo on products, which can help with marketing and consumer appeal.
• Best practices leading to higher quality beef and lamb
• Membership reduces likelihood of selection for statutory inspections in GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) and Food and Feed Law
• Access to a dedicated Farm Liaison Service

How do you gain Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance certification?

You can get an application pack (consisting of an application form, Product Standard, Rules of Scheme and inspection checklist) by contacting the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme helpline on (028) 9263 3024.

You can also get in touch with Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification (NIFCC) on (028) 9263 3017.

After submitting your application and paying the membership fee, NIFCC will implement some initial farm checks, and after completion, a farm inspection will be arranged.

For more information about Northern Ireland Beef & Lamb Farm Quality Assurance visit their website.