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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Food

    Meat inspection, milk and milk products, personal food imports, egg packers

    contents

    Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework

    Organics

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

    • Organic food in Northern Ireland: labelling rules
    • Organic Food in Northern Ireland: Produce Tests and Inspections
    • Organic food in Northern Ireland: list of approved organic control bodies

    Food marketing standards

    • Brexit transition Q&As - Food Standards Agency
    • Beef labelling

    Supporting local food

    • Application to register "Lough Neagh Pollan" as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) under the EU protected food name scheme
    • Northern Ireland Geographic Indications/Protected Food and Drink Names
    • Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme

    Milk and milk products

    • School Milk Subsidy Scheme

    Complying with hygiene regulations

    • Smarter Rules for Safer Food Package
    • Hygiene regulations for egg packers
    • Hygiene regulations for milk and milk product handlers

    Personal food imports

    • Personal food imports - checks and penalties
    • Summary of personal food import restrictions
    • Introduction to personal food imports

    Meat inspection

    • Introduction to meat inspection
    • Veterinary Public Health Programme - Manual for Official Controls
    • Third Country trade - approved premises for export

    Area-based Schemes - Current Scheme Details

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

    Registering Your Business

    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

    Other Useful Information

    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.

    EHC Authenticity Online Check Service

    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.

    Farmers and growers - pests and diseases to look out for

    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.

    Related to Food

    Most recent publications

    • Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework Action Plan 2025-2027

      Published 14 May 2025
    • LMC Partnership Agreement

      Published 13 February 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on the distribution of the Milk Marketing Board's residual funds

      Published 13 August 2024 Consultation closed
    • Consultation on amending Northern Ireland hops certification legislation

      Published 7 May 2024 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Funding call for NI Food Strategy Framework

      Published 27 May 2025
    • Muir sets out steps to transform NI food system

      Published 14 May 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs including Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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