The Irish beef offering: three certifications to showcase its quality

Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI, Bord Bia Quality Assured Beef and Irish Organic Beef: a certified range to meet the needs of the Italian market.

For years, Ireland has been an established partner of the Italian market and stands out for its beef offering, characterised by high quality standards. This result is rooted in the tradition of pasture-based farming and the experience of family-run farms, custodians of knowledge passed down from generation to generation. This wealth of knowledge has evolved over time through innovation, research and the adoption of rigorous production standards. It is precisely the balance between tradition and innovation that gives Irish beef its distinctive quality.

For the Italian market, the offering is now divided into three complementary propositions: Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI, Bord Bia Quality Assured Beef and Irish Organic Beef. Three certifications that enable food service and distribution operators to enhance their offering through distinctive, easily recognisable characteristics.

Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI

Appreciated and recognised throughout the world, Irish grass-fed beef has recently obtained Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union, a recognition that rewards the experience of local family-run farms and the contribution of Ireland’s lush pastures to producing exceptional beef with a unique flavour and texture.

The recent certification is linked to Ireland's Grass Fed Standard, an innovative system launched in 2020 by Bord Bia and Teagasc – the Irish authority for agricultural and food development – which quantifies the volume of grass consumed by Irish cattle. This ensures that Irish Grass Fed beef – now also recognised as PGI – comes from animals that have been fed on grass for at least 90% and graze outdoors for a minimum of 220 days per year.

Bord Bia Quality Assured Beef

Bord Bia’s national Quality and Sustainability Assurance Programme for Irish beef and sheep – SBLAS (Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme) – certified to ISO 17065/2012, is designed to safeguard the quality and sustainability of Irish beef and sheep production. On the one hand, it supervises the work of farms through an operating scheme based on rigorous quality standards capable of identifying best practices; on the other, it protects consumers and distributors through inspections. Bord Bia Quality Assured beef from Ireland is predominantly pasture-reared on family-run farms that participate in the Irish national sustainability programme assurance scheme and undergo independent checks every 18 months.

Irish Organic Beef

Irish organic beef is EU-certified, produced according to organic farming practices and in compliance with high quality and sustainability standards.

Origin Green: added value for the entire supply chain

In Ireland, the Grass Fed farming method places particular emphasis on sustainable production, which extends across the entire production process thanks to Origin Green, the world’s only national programme for developing food sustainability. Created by Bord Bia, it is a voluntary programme that guides, monitors and measures progress in sustainability throughout the food supply chain at national level.

By involving more than 77.000 farms and over 350 food and drink companies, the initiative engages the entire supply chain, from Irish farmers to processing companies, through to food service businesses and retailers, in undertaking actions that reduce their carbon footprint and improve their environmental performance.

For more information, visit www.irishbeef.it or contact bordbia.milan@bordbia.ie

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.