‘Gold Standard Scheme’ of LMC celebrates its 30th anniversary

The Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS), dubbed as the ‘Gold Standard Scheme’ of The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) celebrates its 30th anniversary. The scheme ensures the highest possible standard for the production of local beef and lamb.

Ian Stevenson, LMC Chief Executive Officer, pointed to the early efforts of the country to develop a beef and lamb quality assurance scheme that meets the needs of processors, retailers, consumers and farmers in equal measure from the get-go. The Scheme forms the basis of several retail and foodservice brands by providing a quality mark from the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme. The scheme also has many partnerships across Great Britain that help it support the Red Tractor Scheme which delivers Northern Ireland’s quality lamb and beef to consumers across the UK. The Scheme is considered to be one of the longest-running Assurance Scheme in the world. Stevenson added that the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme enhances the profile and promotes the credentials of Northern Ireland’s world-class beef and lamb industry.

Northern Ireland is at par with quality standards. One of the witnesses to this level of quality assurance is the fact that about 99 percent of the prime cattle slaughtered in Northern Ireland are farm quality assured.