Certified Irish Angus today (Thursday, Sept 3) announced what it describes as a “historic milestone” for Irish agriculture, marking a significant achievement for the beef sector.

Certified Irish Angus has become the first independent, farmer-led producer group in Ireland to have its proprietary brand standard formally approved by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) as a recognised National Scheme.

Described by the producer group as "a landmark achievement for Ireland's premium beef sector," the approval of Certified Irish Angus sets what it describes as "a new benchmark for beef certification, traceability and product integrity".

The approval also formally underpins the Certified Irish Angus 'Triple Guarantee'.

This triple guarantee entails a three-part verification system that combines:

Physical inspection to confirm that it meets the required breed characteristics;
Full traceability throughout the supply chain;
DNA verification to provide scientific assurance of Angus breed integrity.

In a statement the producer group said: "For almost three decades, Certified Irish Angus has supported family farms through a sustainable premium payment structure while maintaining rigorous verification standards within the Irish beef industry.

"Certified Irish Angus’s achievement marks a major evolution in the sector, paving the way for private producer groups to establish independently validated, national-level standards."

Under this newly-approved national scheme, independent certification and inspection activities will be carried out through a Certification Body (Certification Through Compliance) operating under full accreditation to the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17065 standard.

Charles Smith, managing director, added: “This is undoubtedly one of the most significant achievements in the history of Certified Irish Angus and a monumental moment for farmer-led agriculture in Ireland.

“To be the first group of our kind to achieve formal INAB approval for a national scheme is a powerful validation of the investment, expertise and commitment that have gone into our standard over many years.

"Our Triple Guarantee sets Certified Irish Angus apart. By combining physical inspection, full traceability and DNA verification, we provide three clear layers of assurance that are unique within the Irish beef industry".

Smith said that operating under an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification framework "further demonstrates to our farming members, retail partners and consumers that Certified Irish Angus operates at the highest level of integrity and assurance in beef production.”

The producer group said that for retailers and consumers, INAB scheme approval and the Certified Irish Angus Triple Guarantee "provide clear reassurance" that Certified Irish Angus beef is backed by independent inspection, complete traceability, DNA verification and accredited certification.

It also believes that at a time when authenticity, transparency and consumer trust are paramount, Certified Irish Angus "continues to lead the way and redefine excellence in beef production".