Nursery & Landscape Quality Programmes
The Bord Bia Nursery Quality Programme is a voluntary quality assurance scheme designed to assist Irish nurseries reach best practise in commercial nursery crop production and management systems. It sets out a ‘code of practice’ for the efficient running of a nursery business and provides a standard against which nursery businesses are evaluated.
Participants in the programme receive one announced inspection (two for participants of less than two years) over a twelve month period and are expected to carry out a self audit. The first inspection identifies the areas in the nursery that need attention. The inspection sheet, which remains with the nursery after the audit, can be used as a guide to implement any changes necessary. The score achieved on the second audit is final.
The Landscape Contractor Quality Programme is tailored to the size and capabilities of Irish landscape businesses. It is flexible enough to meet the needs of the smallest and largest participants.
Concentrating on the important areas, it identifies best practice, and helps managers to install it in the most cost effective and time efficient way.
It operates in a similar way to the Nursery Quality Programme, with participants to date receiving two announced audits annually. In addition it is sector specific and open to all landscape contractors in the Republic of Ireland.
To date the Landscape Quality Award has been achieved by eight companies, while there are 21 holders of the Nursery Quality Award.
There are two award levels on both programmes; a Certificate of Merit (60% score) and the Quality Award (75% score).
Those who achieve the quality award are entitled to use the Bord Bia Quality Approved Quality Mark in the promotion of their business. However it is not permitted to appear on plant pots or labels. Any use of the quality mark must be approvied by Bord Bia in advance. A copy of the conditions which govern the use of the quality mark are available from Bord Bia on request.
Critical Items
There are a number of critical items that each business must comply with in order to be eligible for an award. The critical items are:
- Safety Statement available
- Safety Statement completed
- Safety Statement Signed and up to date
- Toilet and hand washing facilities available and in working order
- Customer Complaints Records
- First Aid Certificate
- Chemical Store of sound structure
- Chemical records available
- Chemical Store Maintained
- Chemical Store Up to date
Inspection & Certification
The inspections on all three schemes are carried out by independent auditors.
Application
Application forms are distributed each February and accepted until 30th April. From 2009 the application form will be available to download from the Bord Bia website.
You may also discuss details of the scheme at any time by contacting
Carol Marks – carol.marks@bordbia.ie or Tel: 01 6142266