© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS)

Learning objectives To explain the principles of the NI quality assurance scheme. To recognise the quality assurance scheme for beef and lamb in Northern Ireland. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Consumer choice and confidence When food shopping, consumers have a great range of choice – often they want to be confident that they are making the right choice. To help consumers, there are a number of quality assurance schemes for different types of food. The Farm Quality Assurance Scheme in Northern Ireland covers beef and lamb. It is a mark of quality, giving assurance to consumers that the meat has been produced safely, to high welfare standards and with care to the environment. It covers the food chain from farm to fork. Consumers can see the mark of quality, either in butchers or on packing in supermarkets. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Northern Ireland farmers Northern Ireland farmers set very high standards and take enormous pride in the way they care for their animals and manage their land. The Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS) has been developed to be a ‘Guarantee of Quality from Farm to Fork’ – farms are independently inspected and the scheme is accredited to strict EU standards. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Northern Ireland farmers To be eligible for the scheme farmers must comply with 87 different standards. These standards help to ensure: food safety; high animal welfare; care for the environment. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Beef farmer Sam Chesney from Kircubbin Sam’s family have farmed at Cool Brae farm in Kircubbin on the shores of Strangford Lough for nearly 50 years. The County Down landscape is dominated by grasslands and is ideal for producing top quality Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb for local consumers. The farm specialises in producing the best quality grass to feed our cattle and sheep. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 Click to find out more

Beef farmer Sam Chesney from Kircubbin Sam invites groups of visitors on to the farm to show them how things are done in this area of Northern Ireland. They have welcomed visitors from as far away as New Zealand! Sam has hosted school children, community groups and the Women’s Institute to help educate consumers about the how Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb is produced on their doorstep. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 “I am passionate about producing quality beef and lamb for consumers both at home and abroad. We are really only caretakers of this outstanding natural landscape and are committed to ensuring we leave it in a better condition than we found it and I feel it is important to make use of its magnificent potential to produce top quality Farm Quality assured beef and lamb along the way.”

Sheep farmer John Martin from Greyabbey John’s family have farmed in Greyabbey for over 50 years, an area is steeped in history and rolling green pastures. Quality is at the heart of everything on John’s farm and this is his number one priority. The Farm Quality Assurance Scheme focuses on high welfare standards for animals, production of quality food and ensuring care for the environment. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 Click to find out more

Sheep farmer John Martin from Greyabbey By embracing new ideas and technologies with sustainability in mind, John’s hope is that this approach will help guarantee a future in farming for the next generation. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do on the farm. I have recently travelled the world studying agricultural practices in other countries. Preparing the next generation for their future in farming is vital if the agriculture industry is to thrive in the future.”

Farm to fork – ensuring quality Throughout the supply chain from ‘farm to fork’, high standards need to be met in order to receive the Farm Quality Assured mark. 1. Farmer raises the cattle, ensuring high welfare for animals, managing the environment. 2. When ready, the animals are safely transported for processing 3. Animals are processed and the meat is safely cut to high standards. 4. NI FQAS Beef and lamb on sale. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

The Farm Quality Assured Scheme Logo The Scheme logo can be found on all approved beef and lamb from Northern Ireland. In butchers, the logo may be displayed on a label. It is a sign of quality and high standards – giving consumers confidence. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Informing consumers To help consumers make an informed choice, information is provided online, as well as in butchers and supermarkets. Videos have also been created to inform consumers about the FAQS. To help consumers plan meals, recipes are also developed. Information can be found on: © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015 Click to play

Check the label When selecting beef and lamb, check for the FQAS logo. The logo will be displayed on the front-of-pack or on a label (if in a butchers). If you are unsure, ask the butcher for help. © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Get cooking! When cooking with beef and lamb, look out for the FQAS mark on the label. There are lots of fantastic and tasty recipes that can be cooked – from quick bites to main meals. Why not get creative and develop your own recipes too? For inspiration, go to: © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

For further information, go to: natural-choice/ © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

Acknowledgement For further information, go to: © LMC 2015 © Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015