Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Programme

Our Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Programme supports the production of high-class farmed Irish seafood and provides a means of differentiating aquaculture products in the marketplace through eco and quality labelling.

CQA

CQA News and Updates

New Organic Food and Farming Standards in Ireland

The new Organic Food and Farming Standards in Ireland, which incorporates the regulatory requirements specified in the EU Regulation 2018/848 and associated delegated acts, are available to download here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fc7c8-organic-farming/#organic-food-and-farming-standards-in-ireland

 

Upcoming CQA TAC meetings

Upcoming CQA TAC meeting Wednesday, 30th November.

Meetings are open to all persons on application to cqa@bim.ie

 

The response period for the public consultation for new versions of the CQA Farm and Processing Standards has ended.

New draft standards were open for a 60-day public consultation period from 16 July – 13 September 2021 to provide stakeholders an opportunity to review all proposed changes before any final decision to revise the Standards is made.

 

The next steps in the CQA Standard review

The new Standard will be released later in 2022 subject to approval from our governance bodies.

 

The CQA Programme is currently operating under guidance from the Accreditation Body, the Competent Authority and GSSI during the COVID-19 Outbreak – for latest guidance see S7 – CQA Guidance for Audits during the COVID-19 Outbreak

About the CQA Programme

Our CQA Programme was developed by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) with representatives from all parts of the supply chain, from feed to fork. It is a business-to-customer assurance, which is managed according to ISO 17065, and uses aquaculture facilities as its unit of certification.


Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Standards Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Standards

The CQA Standards are a product certification for finfish and mussels. It comprises two integral elements:

How it works

The CQA Standards are separated into modules that cover different areas of activity on a farmed fish production site or processing plant.

CQA Farming Standard CQA Processing Standard
General requirements General requirements
Sub-scopes:

  • Eco production
Sub-scopes:

  • Eco production

General requirements

This section deals with these general management practices that you must have in place to achieve certification:

It covers the specific product criteria in place for fishfish and mussels. This scope is available for salmon, freshwater fish and mussels.

Eco production requirements

This section aims to help you show your commitment to environmentally sustainable development during the production process. It deals with the additional eco requirements that you must have in place (together with the general requirements) achieve eco certification. This scope is available for salmon, freshwater fish and mussels.

Who can Apply

The CQA  Standards are open to anyone within the region of Ireland, regardless of size, scale, management or minimum number of operators.

CQA Standards feedback

Send your CQA Standards comments and questions to: cqa@bim.ie


Applying for Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Certification Applying for Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Certification

Our CQA team will guide you through the process of achieving certification.

How to Apply How to Apply

1

Get in touch to identify your needs

Contact us at cqa@bim.ie for more information.

2

Know your CQA Standards

Download a copy of the relevant CQA Standards and familiarise yourself with the requirements:?

3

Get ready

Prepare your document management and record-keeping system.

4

Pre-Audit

Contact your Certification Body nsf.org to prepare for your full audit.

5

Audit

Apply to the assigned Certification Body nsf.org  and arrange a date for your audit.

Further information

Read the full requirements in your CQA Standard document.


Certified Quality Aquaculture: certified companies Certified Quality Aquaculture: certified companies

Browse this list for details of all CQA-certified farms, hatcheries, broodstock facilities and processing plants.

Performance Indicators related to CQA Scheme Objectives are recognised via ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’. The companies that have been certified as having passed all criteria, are listed below:

 

CQA-Certified Facilities

Company Name Registered Site Cert # Species Production Type CQA Scope CERT Expiry Date
Ocean Farm Ltd Mc Swynes and Inver  Bay CQA1032 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 19.01.23
Ocean Farm Ltd Killybegs CQA1038 SALMON PROCESSING CQA ORGANIC 26.03.24
Kush Seafarms Ltd Ardgroom CQA1005 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 29.11.23
MOWI Ireland Glinsk CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Millstone CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Kindrum Broodstock CQA1022 SALMON BROODSTOCK CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Rinmore CQA1025 SALMON PROCESSING CQA ORGANIC 29.12.23
MOWI Ireland Clare Island CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Kindrum CQA1022 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Pettigo CQA1022 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Creevin CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Deenish CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Lough Altan CQA1022 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Ahabeg CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Innishfarnard CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Roancarrig CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Cranford CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Swilly CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Letterard CQA1022 SALMON MARINE SITE CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
MOWI Ireland Millbrook CQA1022 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
Emerald Mussels Ltd Carlingford Lough CQA1006 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA 28.02.23
Bantry Harbour Mussels Bantry CQA1011 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 27.10.23
Santa Cruise Carrigahorig CQA1035 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 03.12.23
Ocean Run Ltd Colin Whooley CQA1007 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 03.11.23
Iasc Sliogach Uisce Leathan Teo Mulroy Bay CQA1019 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 18.01.24
Dunmanus Bay Mussels Dunmanus Bay CQA1015 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 28.10.23
Mannin Seafoods Ltd Roaringwater Bay CQA1010 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 31.12.23
Saltspray Mussel Technology Ltd Bantry Bay CQA1049 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 03.11.23
Mulroy Bay Mussels Ltd Mulroy Bay CQA1014 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 17.01.24
Derrylea Holdings Ltd. Lough Fee CQA1004 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 08.12.23
Derrylea Holdings Ltd. Screebe CQA1033 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 09.12.23
Derrylea Holdings Ltd. Poulmounty CQA1016 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA ORGANIC 17.11.23
Crescent Seafoods Ltd. Wexford Harbour CQA1047 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 24.12.22
Crescent Seafoods Ltd. Carlingford Lough CQA1047 MUSSEL HARVESTER CQA ORGANIC 24.12.22
Connemara Seafoods Frozen Ltd Westport CQA1001 MUSSEL PROCESSING CQA ECO 06.05.23
Marine Institute Newport CQA1050 SALMON FRESH WATER CQA 22.12.22
Bantry Bay Premium Seafoods Gearhies CQA1053 MUSSEL PROCESSING CQA ORGANIC 30.12.23
Atlantic Seafarms Ltd Roaringwater Bay CQA1054 Mussel HARVESTING CQA ORGANIC 28.08.23
O’Murchu Mussels Roaringwater Bay CQA1060 Mussel HARVESTING CQA ORGANIC 14.12.23

Certified Quality Aquaculture Programme Integrity

The BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture Programme is owned and managed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

BIM and its members have made a commitment that all activities of the CQA Programme:

Programme Integrity Resources

Do you have any comments, appeals and complaints, that may improve the CQA Standards?

The CQA Programme accepts stakeholder submissions with respect to Objectives, Operations, Standards on an open basis throughout the year. All submissions will be considered by the CQA Technical Advisory Committee in the ongoing development of the CQA Programme and Standards.

Email your submission to the CQA Programme Lead at cqa@bim.ie

If you wish to appeal a decision or make a complaint, please read the QP 7 Appeals and Complaints procedure for the BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) programme, before contacting us at cqa@bim.ie .

For information on our development plans for the CQA Standards and the Process of Revision to the CQA Standards see:

For information on our operation during the COVID-19 Outbreak see: S7 – CQA Guidance for Audits during the COVID-19 Outbreak (pdf 310Kb)


The CQA programme is funded through the Knowledge Gateway Scheme which is established under Union Priority 2 of Ireland’s Operational Programme under the EMFF and is co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU.


For more information

Aquaculture Finfish Quality & Food Safety Specialist

Vera Flynn