Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1941. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Bord Bia inspectors are still performing on-farm inspections during level 5 restrictions given the potential risk of spreading Covid-19 when it is not deemed essential work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13946/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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All issues relating to the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes are operational matters for Bord Bia.

However, as a matter of policy, I should advise the Deputy that, in line with COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines, Bord Bia introduced remote audits in April 2020 and suspended on-site auditing of the members and applicants certified to the Bord Bia schemes in order to protect the health of auditors and members and to be compliant with the public health measures and national effort in curbing the spread of the disease.

In that regard, I am advised that the approach undertaken for the Bord Bia Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) and Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) Audits is applied as follows:

Restriction Level 1,2 and 3- Remote or on farm audit - Farmers will have the option of completing either a remote audit or an on-farm audit whichever they are most comfortable with.

Restriction Level 4 and 5– Remote audit only as is currently the position.