Food

Information on key areas if you produce, process, label or trade in organic food and feed in Northern Ireland.

Here you will find useful information, guides, Q&As and forms for the following Area-based Schemes that are currently available from DAERA:

All you need to know about registering your business to claim ABS.

DAERA must maintain a record of the identity of anyone who submits an application to receive ABS payments. Each business must be registered with us and have a unique business identification (business ID) number. We cannot pay you unless you are registered with us as a farm business and have been issued with a business ID. If you are a new farm business and want to register with DAERA, you must complete an ‘FB1’ form. A copy of this form can be found below at New Farm Business Guides and Forms. More information on registering a new farm business can also be found here, or contact your local DAERA Direct Office. A list of DAERA Direct Offices can be found below also.

Most applications for ABS must be submitted online at DAERA Online Services. To access DAERA Online Services you will need to register for either an ‘nidirect’ or ‘Government Gateway’ account

This section contains any relevant and important information that may be of interest to any Farm businesses, authorised Agents of Farm Businesses or anyone involved in Area-based Schemes.

This is a service that allows Third Country competent authority officials to be able to link directly to the DECOL online system in order to be able to verify the authenticity of Export Health Certificates issued for exports to their respective countries.

Intensive agriculture and horticulture is especially vulnerable to outbreaks of new pests and diseases. Farmers and growers monitoring their crops on a day to day basis play a critical role in detecting new pests and diseases at an early stage. This provides the best opportunity to prevent their establishment in the wider environment and causing serious economic damage.