Final agreement on new producer standard 'several months away'
Bord Bia has confirmed that it will be "several months" before final agreement is reached on the new producer standard for beef, sheep and dairy farmers.
The new quality assurance (QA) standard will replace the current farm standards for beef, sheep and dairy into one “consolidated standard”.
The new standard is being discussed by a specially-appointed Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) which "continue to meet regularly".
A spokesperson for Bord Bia noted that all stakeholders, including the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) are "active in the TAC process".
"The draft standard for the beef, sheep and dairy audit is currently being tested with auditors for training purposes.
"Once the auditors have familiarised themselves with the criteria, pilot audits will be conducted on farms to road test the criteria and make sure it is practical for farmers.
"The TACs will then review feedback from the pilot audits to formalise a final copy of the standard for agreement. Final agreement on the criteria is several months away," the spokesperson added.
Chair of the IFA Livestock Committee, Declan Hanrahan told Agriland that when it comes to the new producer standard "nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed".
"We will have to wait for the final draft and see how the pilot audits have gone," he said.
The IFA Livestock Committee has put a number of farmers forward to take part in the pilot.
Hanrahan said that the main aim for the IFA is to further simplify the process for farmers before and during QA audits.
He noted the stress caused to farmers due to inspections, adding that a growing number are employing planners to prepare their farm for inspections, which involves an additional cost.
The IFA Livestock chair acknowledged that Bord Bia is "vital" for marketing Irish food produce, but said it is important that farmers have confidence in the new standard.
He pointed out that consistency among auditors and in how the new standard is applied is crucial.
Hanrahan also said that it is "very important" that farmers have control over their audit data and who has access to that information.
It is understood that animal welfare and sustainability are both "high on the agenda" in the draft standard.
