There have been nine instances over the past five years where Bord Bia has detected the incorrect usage of its quality assurance (QA) logo, the agency has told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Most of these breaches concerned horticulture produce, but two non-compliances related to eggs incorrectly displaying quality assurance labelling too.
“In 2025, one instance of non-compliance with Bord Bia’s logo use policy was found,” a Bord Bia spokesperson commented.
“On this occasion, non-Irish, non-QA fresh produce was incorrectly labelled with the quality mark. The products were recalled and the member was sanctioned.
“In total since 2021 to present, there have been nine instances of non-compliance with Bord Bia’s logo use policy.
“The impacted products were primarily horticulture fresh produce, with two instances involving eggs.”
The Bord Bia QA logo.
Bord Bia has said that the seasonality of Irish fruit and vegetable production usually sees horticulture packing plants having both Bord Bia QA packaging and packaging without any assurance logos.
Breaches in its logo usage policy can typically be put down to human error in employees packing fresh produce into the wrong packaging, the agency said.
“Mislabelling is typically due to human error where an employee puts the wrong packaging on the line.
“Additional staff training, revised documented procedures and an increase in spot audits for companies all help to reduce and avoid these errors in the future.”
In most of the cases of non-compliance, the breaches had been notified to Bord Bia by members of the public, although some were also found during the course of audits.
“The public are asked to contact Bord Bia if they have evidence that the Bord Bia logo has been incorrectly used,” the spokesperson said.
“Breaches can result in immediate suspension from the scheme and/or revocation of the use of the quality mark logo, even in the case of genuine error.”
The spokesperson added that Bord Bia cannot comment on any of sanctions imposed “as this is confidential”.
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There have been nine instances over the past five years where Bord Bia has detected the incorrect usage of its quality assurance (QA) logo, the agency has told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Most of these breaches concerned horticulture produce, but two non-compliances related to eggs incorrectly displaying quality assurance labelling too.
“In 2025, one instance of non-compliance with Bord Bia’s logo use policy was found,” a Bord Bia spokesperson commented.
“On this occasion, non-Irish, non-QA fresh produce was incorrectly labelled with the quality mark. The products were recalled and the member was sanctioned.
“In total since 2021 to present, there have been nine instances of non-compliance with Bord Bia’s logo use policy.
“The impacted products were primarily horticulture fresh produce, with two instances involving eggs.”
The Bord Bia QA logo.
Bord Bia has said that the seasonality of Irish fruit and vegetable production usually sees horticulture packing plants having both Bord Bia QA packaging and packaging without any assurance logos.
Breaches in its logo usage policy can typically be put down to human error in employees packing fresh produce into the wrong packaging, the agency said.
“Mislabelling is typically due to human error where an employee puts the wrong packaging on the line.
“Additional staff training, revised documented procedures and an increase in spot audits for companies all help to reduce and avoid these errors in the future.”
In most of the cases of non-compliance, the breaches had been notified to Bord Bia by members of the public, although some were also found during the course of audits.
“The public are asked to contact Bord Bia if they have evidence that the Bord Bia logo has been incorrectly used,” the spokesperson said.
“Breaches can result in immediate suspension from the scheme and/or revocation of the use of the quality mark logo, even in the case of genuine error.”
The spokesperson added that Bord Bia cannot comment on any of sanctions imposed “as this is confidential”.
Read more
Supervalu recalls African herbs packaged with Bord Bia QA logo
Explainer: what the Bord Bia QA logos mean
Behind the label: what you need to look out for
Bord Bia investigating use of QA mark in adverts for non-Irish foods
Keogh’s error sees Bord Bia QA label used on French potatoes
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