The Bord Bia Quality Mark - FAQs

The Bord Bia Quality Mark is allowed to be used on Irish food products that have been produced in line with high standards set out in Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes.

Each step of the production, through every facet of the food chain, is independently audited to ensure that your food is farmed, processed and packaged in line with these standards.  

Yes. The Bord Bia Quality Mark on food packs is a symbol of origin, quality, and traceability.

When you see the logo on packs, it means that the product has been produced in line with Bord Bia’s highest standards which is independently verified at every stage. Over 50,000 audits take place annually across the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes with a total membership of up to 60,000 farmers, growers and producers.  

Research from Red C shows that the Bord Bia Quality Mark  is the most top‑of‑mind trust mark for Irish shoppers, mentioned first and more often than any other trust mark when people think about logos and symbols on pack when purchasing food (Bord Bia Quality Mark Brand Health Check November 2025).

Yes. For the products that carry the Origin Ireland Bord Bia Quality Mark it guarantees Irish origin.  When you see the Bord Bia Quality Mark on red meat, poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables, it means the food has been produced in line with strict and independently audited standards, and that its Irish origin has been fully verified. 

As part of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme, Bord Bia tracks traceability through their strict Quality Assurance standards.

Every product carrying the Bord Bia Quality Mark must be fully traceable at every step - farms and processors are independently inspected, their documentation is reviewed in detail, and only those meeting all requirements are certified. 

The Bord Bia Quality Mark guarantees that your food has been produced to Bord Bia’s highest quality and sustainability standards and has been independently inspected by a team of auditors- on the farm, during processing, and in packing. It also guarantees that products including beef, lamb, pork, bacon, chicken, turkey, duck, eggs, fruit and vegetables are 100% of Irish origin. 

There are many benefits of Quality Assurance beyond building and supporting reputation within international markets. Bord Bia audits, for example, have brought greater awareness of safety issues on many farms, providing fresh eyes on hazards potentially overlooked. Audits also help keep members better informed of their legal obligations and prepared for cross compliance and other inspections. 

There are 3 basic components in a Quality Assurance Scheme: 

Standards: 

The standards are the requirements that members of the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme must comply with. These standards are developed by a group of experts from relevant stakeholder groups, including farmers, processors and independent scientific and food safety experts. This group of experts meets to update the standards in accordance with changes in legislation, market demands and changes in best practice. The main areas covered by the standards include traceability, animal welfare, care for the environment, safe use of medicines and chemicals at farm level; and animal welfare, food safety, hygiene and traceability at factory level. 

Audit: 

The audit is the inspection of the farm or factory to ensure that the food is being produced in accordance with the standards. The audit is conducted by independent auditors, and all members of the Quality Assurance Schemes receive inspections at regular intervals to ensure compliance. In addition, spot audits are also carried out where necessary. The auditor makes a recommendation as to whether the farm or factory is to be certified. 

Certification: 

After the audit is completed, and provided that the farm or factory meets the requirements of the standard, the next step in the process is certification. An independent certification committee makes the decision to certify. Certification is official confirmation that the audit has been passed and the member is then eligible to apply to use the Bord Bia Quality Mark on product where appropriate. Logos can be accessed here.  

Through its ISO‑accredited Quality Assurance schemes, Bord Bia supports farmers in maintaining the highest standards in food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection, and traceability, all verified through independent audits.  

Farmers also benefit from being members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes, gaining insights on water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and carbon footprint, along with year‑on‑year performance feedback that helps them operate more sustainably and improve farm efficiency. 

Beyond on‑farm improvements, being members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance schemes means Bord Bia can further support farmers’ livelihoods by helping access better-paying markets internationally and build domestic consumer trust through the Bord Bia Quality Mark, which assures shoppers that food is produced to Bord Bia’s highest  standards. 

With training, online learning hubs, and a dedicated helpdesk to guide farmers through certification and compliance, Bord Bia makes it easier for them to enhance skills, meet evolving standards, and stay competitive at home and abroad. 

Beef products carrying the Origin Ireland Bord Bia Quality Mark mean that the product was produced and processed in the Republic of Ireland.  

Following slaughter, a barcoded label is fitted to each carcass which includes all the information about the animal including Quality Assurance status as set out in the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes. 

So, when you see the Bord Bia Quality Mark on beef, you can be confident you’re choosing authentic Irish beef that has been verified at every stage — from farm to pack. 

No. Beef with the Origin Ireland Bord Bia Quality Mark must come from animals born, reared, processed and packed in the Republic of Ireland under Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes. Imported beef cannot carry the Bord Bia Quality Mark. 

Food that is labelled as Irish but does not carry the Bord Bia Quality Mark is regulated and enforced by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The FSAI is responsible for coordinating the enforcement of all food labelling and country‑of‑origin rules in Ireland, including investigating incorrect or misleading Irish origin claims. 

Bord Bia stringently monitors and controls the use of the Bord Bia Quality Mark on processed foods.  

Bord Bia operates Quality Assurance Schemes for the following food products:  
Beef, Lamb, Bacon, Pork, Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Eggs, Fruit and Vegetables. A substantial number of farmers/producers and processors are members of these schemes and therefore, a large range of food with the Bord Bia Quality Mark is available from all the major supermarkets and other retail outlets.   

Bord Bia is responsible for enforcing the use of the Bord Bia Quality Mark. 

Only farmers, growers, food producers and processors who are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme and who meet its strict requirements are permitted to use the mark.  

Bord Bia takes matters relating to mislabelling extremely seriously. Herbs of non-QA and non-Irish origin were incorrectly packed and labelled with a Bord Bia Quality Mark ‘Origin Ireland’ logo. The matter was investigated immediately, and the mislabelled produce were recalled.  A site audit of the Quality Assured packer took place. The findings of the audit will not be made public as the audit process is confidential.  

Only herbs from a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme, grown and packed in the Republic of Ireland can carry the Bord Bia Quality Mark ‘Origin Ireland’ logo. Under the Bord Bia Logo Use Policy, Bord Bia is entitled to impose sanctions for misuse of the Bord Bia Quality Mark logo. Sanctions may include but are not limited to fines and suspension from the scheme and can be imposed even in the case of a genuine mislabelling error. The full range of sanctions are publicly available in the Bord Bia Logo Use Policy document.  

Seasonality in the horticulture sector means that growers and packers will move between supplying Quality Assured and non-Quality Assured products throughout the year.

This means they will have two packaging designs, one with the Bord Bia logo and one without. Mislabelling is typically due to human error where an employee puts the wrong packaging on the line.  Additional, staff training, revised documented procedures, and an increase in spot audits for companies all help to reduce and avoid these errors in the future.  

Bord Bia’s role is to market and promote Irish food, drink and horticulture to customers worldwide on the basis of sustainability, traceability and quality.  

The Bord Bia executive (i.e employees), carry out the day-to-day activities of Bord Bia, led by the Chief Executive and his senior management team. Each member of the senior management team leads their individual teams. It is through these teams that the activities of Bord Bia and planned and executed together with farmers, processors, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, partner organisations and our markets.