Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Programme

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.

• CQA Standards
• CQA Certification
• CQA Certified companies
• CQA Programme integrity

Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Standards

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

• CQA Processing Standard Issue 1 (pdf 730Kb)
• CQA Farm Standard Issue 1 Revision 1 (pdf 1,358Kb)                        
• CQA Farm Standard Issue 1 Revision 1 Guidance Note (pdf 118Kb)
• CQA Processing Standard Issue 2 (1021kb)
• CQA Farm Standard Issue 2 (1mb)
• CQA Farm Standard Issue 2 Revision 0 Guidance Note (151kb)

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.

General requirements

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

• The production process from inputs through to outputs
• Assessment of the applicant, premises, operational systems and procedures.

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

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

Further information

Read the full requirements in your CQA Standard document.

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

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:

• Are carried out in a systematic manner in accordance with defined and documented policies and procedures
• Meet applicable legislative requirements
• Are visible and auditable and summary audit reports are available on request
• Meet the needs of applicants, staff, certification bodies, accreditation bodies and all other related stakeholders
• Describe the structure of the operating, certification and control procedures in the Programme Integrity Resources.
• BIM’s CQA Programme Governance organisational structure

Programme Integrity Resources

• CQA QMS Governance & Control Manual (pdf 599Kb)
• QP1 – Certification Body Approval Requirements for the BIM CQA Audits and Certification (pdf 262Kb)
• QP2 – Application and Audit Requirement for the BIM CQA Farm Standard (pdf 296Kb)
• QP2A – Application and Audit Requirement for the BIM CQA Processing Standard (pdf 278Kb)
• QP3 – Appointment of BIM CQA Farm and Processing Auditors (pdf 286Kb)
• QP4 – BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture Procedure 5: Program of Work (pdf 153Kb)
• QP5 – BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Scheme Document Control (pdf 220Kb)
• QP6 – BIM CQA Logo Management (pdf 317Kb)
• QP7 – Appeals and Complaints Procedure for the BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture Scheme (pdf 257Kb)
• QP8 – CQA Programme CB Performance Review Procedure (pdf 210Kb)                        
• QP9 – Internal Annual CQA Programme Review (pdf 196Kb)                        
• S1 – BIM CQA Standards Development Process and Procedure (pdf 159Kb)                        
• S2 – Terms of Reference (ToR) for the BIM Certified Quality Aquaculture (CQA) Oversight Committee (pdf 167Kb)
• S3 – Terms of Reference (ToR) for the BIM CQA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) (pdf 164Kb)
• S4 – BIM CQA Quality Management System – Document Register (pdf 163Kb)
• S5 – CQA Standards Programme of Work (pdf 110Kb)                        
• S6 – CQA Terms and Conditions for use of logo (pdf 214Kb)
• S7 – CQA Guidance for Audits during the COVID-19 Outbreak (pdf 310Kb)

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:

• QP1 – Certification Body Approval Requirements for the BIM CQA Audits and Certification (pdf 262Kb)
• S1 – BIM CQA Standards Development Process and Procedure (pdf 159Kb)
• S5 – CQA Standards Programme of Work (pdf 11oKb)                        
• CQA OC & TAC Committee Members List (pdf 85Kb)

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.