About the Bord Bia Quality Mark

In accordance with the European Union Guidelines for State Aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas (2022/C485/01), Bord Bia will carry out a number of promotion activities of agricultural products in the period 2023 – 2027. In accordance with 1.3.2 of the Guidelines mentioned above, the promotion campaigns, to take place in Ireland, other Member States and in Third Countries, will be designed to inform the public about the characteristics of agricultural products, for example, by organising competitions, by participating in trade fairs and public relations activities, by the vulgarisation of scientific knowledge, or by publications with factual information or to encourage economic operators or consumers to buy the agricultural product in question by way of promotion campaigns.

 

The main focus of the campaigns will be on Annex 1 products covered by national quality schemes, including farm certification schemes, as referred to at point 460 in the Guidelines mentioned above. Bord Bia will undertake promotions for beef, pigmeat, sheepmeat, poultry, dairy, horticulture products and eggs that carry the quality logos under the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes. Some generic promotions of agricultural products will also take place, mainly concerning horticultural products.

Bord Bia has developed a number of Logos to promote the Quality Assurance Schemes to the consumer. While the use of the applicable Logo(s) is not an obligatory part of membership, it/they can only be used on product by members of Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes. Where a Logo is to be used on product, all links in the production of the finished product must be QAS members. For example, in the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) the farmer, the abattoir and processing plant must all be members of SBLAS in order for the meat at retail outlets to carry the Logo. For horticultural produce, the grower and packer (and processor for prepared fruit & vegetables) must be members of the Sustainable Horticulture Assurance Scheme (SHAS). Although retailers are not members of Bord Bia’s QASs they may use the Logos for promotion and marketing purposes in accordance with the conditions set out by Bord Bia. Examples of the Quality Logos which can be used are beneath.

Learn more about the Irish Quality Mark here
See the full set of Other EU member state logos

In conformity with the Guidelines, the eligible costs will include the costs associated with disseminating scientific knowledge and factual information on quality schemes. Eligible costs will also cover consumer targeted promotions organised in the media (print, broadcast and online) as well as for promotion materials distributed directly to consumers. Specifically, expenditure will take place on the following elements:

 

• Market Research specifically relating to: consumer attitudes; advertising concepts and evaluation of the effectiveness of the advertising
• design and production of print and broadcast (TV and radio) and Internet advertising
• purchasing of media space
• development of websites
• printing of posters, leaflets, point of sale materials, consumer competitions, cookery demonstrations, in store tastings
• logo development and on-pack labelling of quality schemes

 

Aid will not include direct payment to any beneficiary but will be paid to the provider of the promotion measure e.g advertising agencies, media buyers, design agencies etc. (in accordance with the Guidelines).