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The news that Aldi has confirmed that some of its Irish beef and pork was being processed in the UK has raised questions among farmers.
The Irish Farmers Journal asked Bord Bia how these products can carry a Bord Bia ‘Origin Ireland’ label.
A spokesperson for Bord Bia said that, in line with EU state aid rules, Bord Bia’s Quality Assurance and Sustainability Assurance Schemes must be open to membership from applicants from any EU country.
There are a number of plants in the UK that are members of Bord Bia's Meat Processor Assurance scheme.
The full members' list is available online here.
Labelling rules
The Bord Bia Origin Ireland logo can be used on products from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the Republic of Ireland, even when the resultant meat is sliced and packed outside the Republic in Bord Bia Quality Assured plants.
If products are sliced and packed in any Bord Bia-approved plant outside the Republic of Ireland, and offered for sale in the Republic, then the label must state where it was packed.
This can be the town or country, at Bord Bia’s discretion.
The writing must be easily read by the consumer and adjacent to the factory stamp.
There's a but...
The use of the Origin Ireland logo on Irish meat that is packed outside of the Republic is only allowed where there is no 'value-added' process applied, for example, extra ingredients, curing, smoking, etc.
Mince is not considered a value-added product or resulting from a value-added process, so mince prepared, for example, in Northern Ireland (NI), from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the Republic, can carry the Origin Ireland logo, but must it state 'prepared in Northern Ireland' or prepared in relevant town.
Can Irish and non-Irish QA meat be mixed?
Bord Bia told the Irish Farmers Journal that members of Bord Bia’s Meat Processor Assurance scheme in the UK must adhere to the same audit requirements and traceability procedures as Republic of Ireland members.
“As at all facilities, quality assured (QA) meat is segregated from non-QA meat to ensure integrity in the supply chain,” it said.
Back to Aldi’s meat
The Irish Farmers Journal asked Aldi what traceability processes and checks are in place to make sure that the beef and pork is from Irish animals.
A spokesperson told us: “All Irish beef and pork products are fully traceable from farm to fork under the Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme.
“The animals have been born, bred, slaughtered and deboned in Ireland and transported to be packed at our suppliers’ UK processing facilities, all of which are Quality Assured by Bord Bia.”
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