Quality & Awards > Beef Quality Assured Scheme

The Beef Quality Assurance Scheme (BQAS) operated by Bord Bia is designed to enable beef plants meet the ever increasing demands of customers and consumers. The scheme is kept under review by Bord Bia auditors to ensure that it continues to reflect the emerging requirements of the marketplace.

The BQAS is an integrated scheme involving the farmer, the beef plant and participating customers. While quality and safety must begin at farm level, Liffey Meats acts as the pivotal basis of control. As both the purchaser of cattle and the seller of the product, Liffey Meats is uniquely placed to marry both the supply and demand links and in addition also has the core expertise and facilities to demonstrate compliance through audit. Because of this central role we can ensure that cattle are purchased only from approved farmers and at the same time can ensure that the product does not loose quality during subsequent handling, storage and despatch.

The scheme lays down a number of key essential requirements covering both product and process. For example cow beef is not eligible; only certain classification categories can be included; there are procedures covering hygiene, chilling, and product traceability along the productive chain. Member plants must develop a food safety management plan based on the principles of HACCP.