Pigmeat Quality Assurance Scheme (PQAS) 

The Bord Bia Pigmeat Quality Assurance Scheme is an integrated scheme involving the farmer and the processing plant working in partnership to provide the customer with quality assured product.

The scheme describes the essential quality assurance requirements from primary production through factory processing to final despatch which is necessary to meet customer requirements. In addition to meeting regulatory requirements the scheme lays down additional standards to be complied with at each step of the production chain.

The scheme was first introduce in 1989 and was substantially revised in 1997 to incorporate recognised International Quality Management Systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and EU Food Hygiene Legislation.

As with the other quality assurance schemes being operated by Bord Bia the scheme requires inspections at farm level and audits of processing plants to ensure compliance with the scheme requirements.

 The Producer

Given that quality and safety can never be inspected into pigmeat the controls must begin on the farm. Farmers who participate in the scheme must:

• Give a signed declaration.
• Agree to abide by a code of practice covering issues like stockmanship; welfare; nutrition; use of veterinary medicines; animal traceability and environmental controls.
• Allow a detailed farm inspection first by a trained meat plant inspector and subsequently on a random basis as part of Bord Bia's overall audit of compliance with the requirements of the scheme.

Meat Plants

Within the pigmeat plant the scheme lays down a number of key essential requirements covering both product and process. There are procedures covering hygiene, chilling, and product traceability along the production chain. Member plants must develop a food safety management plan based on the principles of HACCP.