FQAS levy increases from June to “ensure long-term sustainability”
The Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS) Industry Board has confirmed that following a consultation with key stakeholders, its membership fees will increase from June.
The FQAS Industry Board is an industry stakeholder group made up of representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), National Sheep Association (NSA) and the National Beef Association (NBA).
Also on the board is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA).
It said that membership fees would be revised from Saturday 1st June 2024, with initial application and annual renewal fees for producer members increasing from £75 to £95 (excluding VAT).
Membership fees were last increased in May 2021 and since then have remained static with FQAS utilising reserves to avoid an increase in producer fee. The Board said that scheme reserves were now at a level where they “cannot be depleted any further”, therefore, to continue supporting the efficient running of the scheme, it had decided that a membership fee increase should be applied to “ensure long-term sustainability”.
According to the Board, this will also be accompanied by an uplift in processor throughput fee.
Chair of the FQAS Industry Board and Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) CEO Colin Smith said: “It is essential that FQAS is sufficiently funded to ensure that it can sustainably deliver for the beef and lamb sector going forward.
“The increase in producer membership fees has been accompanied by a 20% increase in the FQAS processor throughput fee. The FQAS funding model is unique in the United Kingdom in that income is derived from both farmer and processor contributions. This 20% increase from the processor alongside the FQAS membership fee increase will help to further the work of the scheme ensuring that ongoing operational costs are met.
“LMC is guided by farmers, processors and independent experts who make up the FQAS Industry Board ensuring that FQAS evolves in line with relevant industry changes. Representation from stakeholder organisations is also key to the successful operation of the FQAS Standard Setting Committee. No FQAS Standards are devised and implemented without the full approval and support of the Standard Setting Committee and Industry Board.”
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