Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) president Patrick Kent said he wondered if Bord Bia was fit for purpose and hit out at the drag in QA review.

“The board of Bord Bia has serious questions to answer about why the review of the Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) has been allowed to drag on for so long and why farmers still don’t have an automatic right to a re-audit.”

That’s according to ICSA president Patrick Kent who was speaking on the second day of the Ploughing Championships.

“This was a big issue at last year’s Ploughing where serious, committed farmers were being thrown out of the QAS without any recourse to immediate appeal.

“Interestingly, a recent court case involving the Department suggests that no farmer should be subject to sanctions without having the opportunity to appeal before the penalty is applied. It is unacceptable that cattle and sheep farmers’ livelihoods, already precarious, are further undermined by being thrown out of the scheme and that no proper system of automatic and instant appeal is available,” he added.

Review awaiting approval

In response, Bord Bia said it is expected the revised standard will be finished before year end and operational from early 2017.

“The revised standard is currently with INAB, the accreditation board, awaiting approval.

“In the interim, should any farmer wish to be re-audited, we encourage them to contact Bord Bia and they will be accommodated. With regard the appeals, it should be noted there is an appeals system and procedure in place, which applies to all QA schemes.”

There is no prospect of fair play for farmers in 2016

Patrick Kent also said that an issue raised at the Ploughing two years ago is still not resolved: “Again the board of Bord Bia has questions to answer in relation to the refusal of meat factories to allow cattle with more than four residencies, or with less than 70 days’ residency period, to be considered eligible for a quality assurance bonus.”

“I am seriously wondering if the board of Bord Bia is fit for purpose. There is no point in blaming the staff of Bord Bia; the buck stops with the board. It is not good enough that there is no prospect of fair play for farmers in 2016, and I am calling on the board to account for its tardiness in sorting out these questions.

“In particular, the review of the QAS for cattle and sheep farmers has taken far too long and if the board does not see the urgency of the issue, then maybe it is time for Minister Creed to step in,” concluded Kent.