With the uptake in the number of farmers taking part in the various Bord Bia Quality Assurance (BBQA) schemes, the number of failures have also risen.
The volume of audits conducted will have increased by approximately 30% by the end of 2015, when compared to the total audits conducted in 2012.
According to Bord Bia, the failure rate has increased by 2.4% from 2012 levels to current levels. Failure rates fluctuate from year to year and have stayed within a range of 4.5% to 7%.
According to a spokesperson for Bord Bia, the main areas which result in a farmer failing a BBQA inspection or audit relate to record keeping in particular.
“The main areas of non-compliance resulting in a farmer failing an audit relate to record keeping, health and safety issues identified during the farm walk and environmental risks,” the spokesperson said.
“Increases in failure rates can be due to a number of things, such as new entrants to the scheme not being fully familiar with the requirements, or existing applicants repeatedly failing to address areas of non-compliance from previous audits,” the spokesperson added.
Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed the number of farmers who are currently in each of the schemes. These are as follows:
Certified beef producers – 44,351.Certified lamb producers – 12,023.Certified dairy producers – 7,252.BBQA review
As the Irish Farmers Journal exclusively reported in July, there is a major review of the BBQA currently under way, with an outcome expected before the end of the year.
One of the main considerations on the table is an easing of the process regarding failed inspections.
As it stands, if a farmer fails a QA inspection, he/she is generally excluded from the scheme for three months. However, an appeal can be heard by an appeals committee prior to that.
One consideration being discussed is that if a farmer fails a QA inspection on a minor issue, then he/she would not be excluded, but would rather be given time to address that issue.
This would be in line with the new Dairy QA Scheme and the FQAS in Northern Ireland.
With the uptake in the number of farmers taking part in the various Bord Bia Quality Assurance (BBQA) schemes, the number of failures have also risen.
The volume of audits conducted will have increased by approximately 30% by the end of 2015, when compared to the total audits conducted in 2012.
According to Bord Bia, the failure rate has increased by 2.4% from 2012 levels to current levels. Failure rates fluctuate from year to year and have stayed within a range of 4.5% to 7%.
According to a spokesperson for Bord Bia, the main areas which result in a farmer failing a BBQA inspection or audit relate to record keeping in particular.
“The main areas of non-compliance resulting in a farmer failing an audit relate to record keeping, health and safety issues identified during the farm walk and environmental risks,” the spokesperson said.
“Increases in failure rates can be due to a number of things, such as new entrants to the scheme not being fully familiar with the requirements, or existing applicants repeatedly failing to address areas of non-compliance from previous audits,” the spokesperson added.
Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed the number of farmers who are currently in each of the schemes. These are as follows:
Certified beef producers – 44,351.Certified lamb producers – 12,023.Certified dairy producers – 7,252.BBQA review
As the Irish Farmers Journal exclusively reported in July, there is a major review of the BBQA currently under way, with an outcome expected before the end of the year.
One of the main considerations on the table is an easing of the process regarding failed inspections.
As it stands, if a farmer fails a QA inspection, he/she is generally excluded from the scheme for three months. However, an appeal can be heard by an appeals committee prior to that.
One consideration being discussed is that if a farmer fails a QA inspection on a minor issue, then he/she would not be excluded, but would rather be given time to address that issue.
This would be in line with the new Dairy QA Scheme and the FQAS in Northern Ireland.
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