Contact: Tony Pettit, Head of Teagasc Food Assurance Programme (Submission made in a personal capacity)
OBJECTIVE
Promote culture of quality assurance and food safety at farm level.
BACKGROUND
The increasing emphasis on food safety combined with major changes in the retailing sector is forcing food processors to provide increasingly higher standards of food assurance. Processors have to ensure that their supply chain can provide quality assured produce. Major food safety scares can have the capacity to cause enormous damage to agri-industry.
Many producers are involved in industry/retailer Quality Assurance Schemes. However the need for and the role of Quality Assurance has not been well explained to producers. Very often producers view quality assurance schemes as a threat rather than a marketing opportunity. It is important that Irish food producers take a proactive approach to quality assurance and food safety. Quality assurance is a market requirement. In future there will have to be a degree of partnership and links between producers and processors to meet market requirements on food assurance.
In the coming years E.U. and national legislation on food safety will impact more and more at farm level.
QUALITY ASSURANCE COURSES
Short specialised quality assurance courses should be provided to committed producers. For beef producers these quality assurance courses would cover:
Courses would be approx. 20 hours long. Participants who complete the courses would be awarded certificates of participation in a Quality Assurance Course. Participants would also draw up a simple food assurance plan for their enterprise. Such courses could be developed and made available for enterprises other than beef if appropriate.
BENEFITS
Ensure Irish producers are aware of the need for and the benefits of quality assurance. Develop a quality/safety culture. Enhance the image of the agri-industry and Irish food.
INCENTIVE NEEDED
Encouraging producers to take a proactive approach to quality assurance is a worthwhile long-term investment. Some consideration should be given to the possibility of providing an incentive for producers to attend such classes or to make such courses a requirement for specific schemes or farm development aid. For example REP participants receive £100 for attending 20-hour REPS course.