Agri-Business
Bord Bia said it will be "several months" before final agreement is reached on the new producer standard for beef, sheep and dairy farmers.
The chief executive of Bord Bia Jim O'Toole has said that work is ongoing to try to "streamline" the process for farm audits.
Beef
The Bord Bia helpdesk to assist farmers with queries on their audits under quality assurance schemes received some 100,000 calls last year.
Bord Bia is "in discussions" with Irish organic certification bodies and is looking at opportunities to make the process..
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture heard farmers struggling with weather conditions have an option to defer Bord Bia audits.
Preparing for your Bord Bia quality assurance audit is a task that should be carried out to ensure it goes smoothly and successfully
Rural Life
Following the announcement that many Covid-19 rules have been relaxed, Bord Bia has confirmed that it will return to on-farm audits.
Bord Bia will return to remote audits for the various quality assurance schemes, before moving to a 'blended approach' in next month.
Bord Bia is to resume conducting farm audits remotely later this week, the Irish food board has confirmed.
On-site and on-farm Bord Bia audits will recommence this Monday, August 10, where possible, in line with government guidelines.
The incoming remote audits which have been developed by Bord Bia may have a role to play in the authority's auditing system long term.
Following successful pilot audits, Bord Bia is preparing to conduct remote audits on farms under the Bord Bia Quality Assurance schemes.
Bord Bia is currently examining the possibility of conducting Quality Assurance audits remotely, by phone and video, as a temporary measure.
"Take a night or two off; meet people; find a hobby; and if something is bothering you, chat," advised Martina Harrington, Teagasc, Wexford.
