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Buying Irish Bible

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RESEARCH / FACTS / FIGURES

2011 Periscope Research by Bord Bia:
'The most recent research we have to date which reflects people's perceptions of labels is in PERIscope, Bord Bia's biennial study into consumer behaviour in Ireland and the UK.'

Key Points:

• 36% of Irish consumers always check for the country of origin label whereas only 26% did so in 2009.
• 45% sometimes check for the country of origin label.
• 34% see it as very important to buy local produce when shopping in comparison to 28% in 2009.
• The frequency of purchasing local produce has also risen.
• 61% of Irish consumers say that they are more likely to buy meat when it has the Quality Mark logo (Source: Behaviour & Attitudes 2011).

- Source Bord Bia

Truly Irish Country Foods:

• 'When you buy a Truly Irish product you are helping to save over 8,000 Irish jobs.'

- Source Truly Irish

Love Irish:

• Thousands of jobs depend on Irish manufactured food and drink brand's.'
• 'An allied objective (of Love Irish) is to support and grow the 230,000 people employed in the agri food industry.'

- Source Love Irish

Guaranteed Irish Shop for Ireland campaign:
Research carried out by Guaranteed Irish, suggests that an extra €4 per household per week on Guaranteed Irish products would result in 6,000 extra jobs, and the vast majority of Irish consumers (86%) say Irish companies should highlight the fact that their products or services are Irish.

- Source: Amárach Research.

'By buying goods and services displaying the Guaranteed Irish symbol you are helping to keep jobs in Ireland. Now that makes sense, doesn't it?'

- Source Guaranteed Irish

BORD BIA

Bord Bia operates Quality Assurance Schemes for:

• Bacon (including sausages, rashers and ham)
• Beef
• Chicken
• Duck
• Eggs
• Fruit
• Lamb
• Pork
• Turkey
• Vegetables

The Bord Bia Q mark:
Currently over 40,000 Irish farmers and over 150 food processors and packers are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme.

Only food produced on approved Irish farms and processed in approved Irish factories can carry the Origin Ireland Q Mark. Currently all the members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance schemes are on the island of Ireland.

Where you see the Bord Bia Q Mark on a product it means that the product has been produced in accordance with the required Quality Assurance standards. Secondly the flag and the 'Origin Ireland' on the mark verify that the product was produced in Ireland - where you see this mark it means that the food was farmed and processed in the Republic of Ireland.

There are four versions of the Q Mark:

• Origin Ireland: Quality assured food that is produced and processed in the Republic of Ireland will have the Origin Ireland Q Mark.
• Origin Northern Ireland: Quality assured food that is produced and processed in Northern Ireland.
• Produced and Processed Ireland and Northern Ireland: Quality assured food that is farmed in Republic of Ireland and processed in Northern Ireland.
• Origin Ireland Meat Content Only: Where the percentage of meat in a prepared meat product is over 90% (86% or greater in the case of pigmeat products) of the total ingredients and the meat is quality assured then the Q Mark on the label will be as in Fig 1. Where the quality assured meat in the final product is less than 90% of the total ingredients the Q Mark in Fig 4 is used - this is to convey that it is the meat portion of the product that is quality assured by Bord Bia.

Love Irish Food

Love Irish Food promotes food and drink brands that are produced in Ireland and use Irish ingredients, where possible.

Specifically, 80% of the revenue value of the brand must be produced in the Republic of Ireland.

Love Irish has grown from 29 brands when it was set up in 2009 to 86 brands today.

In order to qualify for membership the brand must:

• be in the food and drink sector
• be produced in the Republic of Ireland
• use Irish ingredients where possible
• have 80% of the value of the brand derived through production in the ROI.

Truly Irish Country Foods

• Truly Irish Country Foods is owned by a 100 strong farm based business established by pig producers throughout Ireland (north and south)- Connaught: 5, Leinster: 22, Munster: 41, Ulster: 32
• They supply high quality 100% Irish pork and bacon, bred reared and produced in Ireland for sale in the local and international market place
• 'Our name is also our guarantee. what makes us different is we absolutely refuse to compromise quality for profit.'
• 'You can be confident whenever you purchase a Truly Irish product it comes from your local producer and is fully traceable back to the farm.'
• Use only Bord Bia quality approved pigs which also come from category 1 welfare farms
• 'Our competitors say they go from farm to fork. We go a step further. We are there from conception.'

GUARANTEED IRISH

Guaranteed Irish aims to increase awareness of, and demand for Irish products and services.

The guaranteed Irish label informs and identifies to the consumer that the product is Irish, and that the product is made in Ireland.

It is seen as encouragement to buy Irish, a way to support jobs/employment and a reassurance on local origins.

Seeing the G.I. symbol on food reassures consumers where the food comes from. There is more trust in food products which carry the GI symbol.

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIPGuaranteed Irish stated objective where possible, it should be a minimum of 50% added value or more at the point of manufacture or conversion.

Membership is open to Northen Ireland but this is selective. 99% of members are based in the Republic of Ireland. There is currently only one product from Northern Ireland carrying the guaranteed Irish symbol- Strathroy milk.

The margin includes the following: 1. Raw material
2. Production costs
3. Employment costs
4. Packaging costs
5. Promotional material
6. Transport charges

 

APPENDIX

List of Brand Names/Suppliers/Products by Umbrella Group

Love Irish Foods

Atlantis Seafood
Avonmore Cheese
Avonmore Cream
Avonmore Milk
Avonmore Soup
Ballygowan
Ballymaloe
Country Relish
Barry's Tea
Batchelors
Blue Haven Food Company
Broderick's Brothers Bars
Bryan Lynch Finest Salads
Bundy's
Cadbury Dairy Milk
Cadbury Flake
Cadbury Time Out
Cadbury Twirl
Cashel Blue
Chef's Cuisine
Cherry Blossom Bakery
Cidona
Clonarn Clover Eggs
Club Orange
CMP
Coole Swan
Coppingers of Galway
Country Kitchens Bakery
Country Pastures Eggs
Country Style Foods
Crackerbarrel
Cheese Crowe Family Farm
Cully & Sully
Danucci Artisan Chocolates
Derrycamma Farm Rapeseed Oil
Douglas Hyde Food Company
Energise Sport
Erin Farm Fresh Foods
Féile Foods
Flahavans
Folláin Preserves
Galberts
Golden Bake
Golden Irish Eggs
Goodfellas
Ciabatta Rustica
Gourmet Sauces
Gran Clarkes
Granby
G's Gourmet Jams
Hodgins
Imokilly Cheese Company
Keelings
Kilcolman Farm
Kilmeaden
Lemons Iced Caramels
Lily O'Briens
Lir Chocolates
Lough Allen Foods
Lovin Catering
Manor Farm
Mega Munchers Popcorn
Miwadi Mixers
Gourmet Sauces
Nature's Best
Noirins Bakehouse
O'Egg
Organic for Us Milk
Organic for Us Yogurt
Petits Filous
Premier Dairies
Robert Roberts Coffees
Robert Roberts Snacks
Robert Roberts Teas
Roscarbery Recipes
Royal Icing
Rudd's
Scott's Food Processing
Shellfish de la Mer
Simplee Salts
Simply Divine
Snowcream
Sqeez
Swift Healthcare Solutions
The Jelly Bean Factory
The Juice Press
The Real Irish Food Company
Tic Tac
TK Lemonade
Traditional Cheese Company
Yop
Yoplait

Truly Irish Country Foods Ltd

Truly Irish List of products:
Traditional Cure Rashers 240g pack
Maple Cured Rashers 240g pack
Beechwood Smoked Rashers 240g pack
Chestnut Smoked Streaky Rashers 180g pack
Premium Pork Sausages (82% Pork) 350g pack
Jumbo Sausages (82% Pork) 350g pack
œ lb Sausages (82% Pork) 227g pack
Hot Chilli Flavoured Jumbo Sausages 350g pack
Caramelised Onion Flavoured Jumbo Sausages 350g pack
Traditional Black Pudding chubb 300g
Traditional White Pudding chubb 300g
Roasting Back Bacon Joint with 25% less salt 700g pack
Breaded Pork - Pork Nuggets, Pork Poppers, Pork Goujons and Pork Goujons with Apple Cider 454g pack
Sausage Meat chubb 454g

Of the above mentioned products, the following are available in Irish Shops:
Traditional Cure Rashers 240g pack
Maple Cured Rashers 240g pack
Beechwood Smoked Rashers 240g pack
Chestnut Smoked Streaky Rashers 180g pack
Premium Pork Sausages (82% Pork) 350g pack
Jumbo Sausages (82% Pork) 350g pack
œ lb Sausages (82% Pork) 227g pack
Hot Chilli Flavoured Jumbo Sausages 350g pack
Caramelised Onion Flavoured Jumbo Sausages 350g pack
Traditional Black Pudding chubb 300g
Traditional White Pudding chubb 300g
Roasting Back Bacon Joint with 25% less salt 700g pack

Guaranteed Irish

B&A Catering
Ballard Organic Farm
Batchelors Ltd
Bewleys Ltd
Blenders Ltd
Bombay Pantry
Brennans Bread
Cathys Spelt For Health
Carrig Beers Ltd
Dingle Brewing Company
Dunbia
Dungarvan Brewing Company
E. Flahavans
Follain
Jacob Fruitfield Foods Ltd
Gem Pack Foods
German Salami Co
Glanmore Foods
G's Gourmet Jams
Glenpatrick
The Hooker Brewery
Hogans Turkeys
Irish Cone & Wafer
Kells Wholemeal Ltd
Kerry Foods
Largo Foods(Tayto)
Manhattan
Metalman Brewing Company
Musgrave
Nine One One
Odlums Mills Ltd
Pat the Baker
Readibake
Real Irish Food
Robt Roberts
Scotts Food
Sheridans Cheesemongers
Swift Fine Foods
Tullamore Meats Co-Op
Taras Cookies
Uncle Aidans
Veg-E-Q
Wicklow Fine Foods
Whip It Up

Click here to view the list of Bord Bia Quality Members.....

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Zero Waste Guide

Waste Charges

• According to Repak research 97% of us recycle regularly from the kitchen; but just 50% of us recycle in the bathroom and only 35%of us recycle from the bedroom.
• The average household in Ireland generates 840 kilos of waste per annum.
  (Approximately 10 times the weight of the average Irish male)
• Irish Households currently recycle approximately 38% of their waste
• By diverting more waste into bottle banks and recycling bins householders can divert up to 50% of their waste and save as much as 30% on their waste charges.
• The average household can save up to €90 per annum on their annual waste charges by proactively recycling up to 50% of their household waste
• Households can recycle up to 50% of their waste ideally through the following systems
  Dry recyclables bins - c18% - (i.e. Green/Blue bins)
  Organic Bins - c15-17% - (brown bins)
  Bring Centres - Bring banks - c17% WEEE- c2-3%
• The average recycling rate across the EU is 40%
• Packaging recycling has grown from under 15% in 1998 to 66% in 2010.
• Many consumers don't maximise the potential of their brown recycling bin. Reasons for this for reasons include:
  - Unavailability-only 34% of household had brown bins according to the EPA in 2010.
  - Lack of knowledge of what can go into the brown bins
  - Smell and residues of liquids in bins

THE KITCHEN:
Problem: Disposing of food waste can be very costly if you put it in the general waste bin.

Solution:
- Buy smaller quantities of fresh food and more frequently
- Home compost your food waste (caution putting cooked food waste into open compost bins)
- Ensure fridges/freezers are maintained at correct temperature
- Closely watch best before dates
- Buy food for planned meals rather than impulse buying
- Where possible store your food in containers to keep foods fresher for longer

Gadgets/Props:
- Plastic sealable containers to keep food fresher for longer in fridge

Problem: Existing kitchen bins are overloaded. The bins are overflowing by bin day

Solution: Take control of your waste - set up an easy to follow simple waste segregation system

Gadgets: A bin segregation system in the kitchen
- Green bin for dry recyclables
- Brown for cooked food and vegetable clippings
- Other - for non-recyclables
- Small box for old batteries and electrical items
- Counter top compost bin for garden composter

Problem: Storing newspapers, bottles, and aluminium cans when green recycling bin is full

Solution: Fit a no junk mail sign at your letter box. Store excess newspapers and bottles in plastic sealed container in the garden until next trip to bottle bank/ bring centre. Recycle newspapers into paper logs for the fire using a log maker. Crush aluminium cans so that more will fit into the green bin. Combine a trip to the bring bank with your grocery shopping trips

Gadgets:
- 'No Junk Mail' sign
- Waste Paper Log Maker
- Plastic Box with lid
- Foot operated can crusher

Problem: Disposing of personal bills securely

Solution: Shred the bills and place waste paper in green bin for recycling

Gadget: Paper Shredder

Additional items to reduce every day waste generation:
- Long Life cleaning cloths to replace j cloths and kitchen towel
- Cotton handkerchiefs replace paper tissues
- Reusable tie string cotton bags for dishwasher tabs and washing machine tablets

BATHROOM AND BEDROOMS
PROBLEM: Excess plastic bottles, toothpaste containers, perfume bottles, cleanser and toner bottles, packaging from new clothing not being recycled to the maximum

SOLUTION: Seek out toiletries with minimal packaging. Put a pedal bin in the bathroom. Set up a separate bin for household recyclables on the landing for recyclables from bedrooms and bathroom. This should encourage recycling where possible.

GADGETS: Lush Hamper of package free toiletries and small pedal bin for landing

Lush has an ecological message. Products are suitable for vegetarians and those suitable for vegans are clearly marked. Nothing is tested on animals, and Lush also guarantees none of its suppliers tests any of their raw materials (including those not bought directly by Lush) on animals either. We believe that the best way to tackle recycling is to not create the waste in the first place. Lush try to remove waste at the design stage, then if there is any waste they will aim to reuse it. If they can't reuse it anywhere, then it will be recycled. Lush probably uses less than half the packaging materials a comparable cosmetic company would use just by selling products without packaging. www.lush.com

BIN COLLECTION SERVICE

Problem: Wasting money by not maximising your bin service.

Solution: Familiarise yourself with what goes into each bin - what is allowed and what is not. Only put your bin out when it is full. If a three bin system (general waste/ dry recycling and brown/organic waste bin service is available from your provider then make it work for you.

No gadgets required.

GARDEN MAKEOVER
Problem: Garden not playing its part in helping to reduce waste generation. Solution: Maximise the garden's potential in terms of additional space and composting potential.

Gadgets

• A plastic box with a lid to store used glass bottles and jars
• Garden Composter for Grass cuttings, Vegetable & Fruit cuttings, Old soil from old plant pots Or
• A green cone which can take all household food waste including raw and cooked meat and fish and bones. Using a food waste digester reduces the amount of waste collected from your home by up to 30%

The green cone is available for approximately €85 at Howbert & Mays Garden Centre, Monkstown, Co. Dublin - www.dyg.ie, or from other online sources.

******

BUYING GOODS AND SERVICES: YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS
By Tina Leonard

RIGHTS
When you buy any product or service from a business you are protected by law. That law is called the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980.

The product must be:

• Fit for purpose i.e. it works and does what it is supposed to do.
• As described i.e. it does what it says on tin, or as per the description given to you by the sales person. Equally if something, say a piece of carpet, is sold by sample, what you end up getting should be exactly the same as the sample you were shown.
• Of merchantable quality i.e. the quality is reasonable in relation to the function of the product, so that it doesn't break down or fall apart.

The product must be:

• Carried out with the necessary skill i.e. no gaps between the flooring and wall, or the wallpaper pattern should match up.
• Any parts used should be of merchantable quality i.e. the pump fitted shouldn't fall apart after a few months.
• As described i.e. the power shower should have plenty of power and if the flooring was described as non-slip that's what it should be.
• Work should be carried out with due care and diligence i.e. they shouldn't break your things or destroy your property when carrying out the service.

REMEDIES
The remedies are: repair, replacement or refund (full or partial).

The remedy has to be provided free of charge and within a reasonable time period. You must have proof of purchase; that could be a receipt or another proof of purchase, and it is the seller that is legally responsible here and not the manufacturer.

Remember, the seller should sort out the problem, and then whatever discussions they may need to have with the manufacturer is up to them; it doesn't concern you.

Think of it like this; your aim is to get back to the beginning. That is to get back the place where you had agreed to pay a certain price for a certain product or service that was described to you in a certain way. The seller must rectify the situation until you are back to what was originally agreed you would get.

WHAT REMEDY WHEN?
Generally, if the product that you just bought is faulty or becomes defective soon enough after purchase, you should expect a full refund or replacement straight away.

If more time has passed you would expect the seller to carry out a repair first. But after one or two repairs, if it becomes clear the repair isn't sorting the problem, you move on to the options of replacement or refund.

Bear in mind that the number of repairs acceptable isn't described in the law so you'll have to use your own judgement depending on the situation.

TIME FRAMES
You should complain as soon as possible. That's because your rights do diminish over time.

Within the first six months of purchase your rights are strongest. According to EU law (EC Directive 99/44/EC on the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees), within this time frame if a product becomes defective it is understood to have been there from the start and you don't have to prove it. But after that you may have to prove that a defect is there.

The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 does not specify how long you have to make a complaint, nor does it put time frames on remedies. However, under our Statute of Limitations you have up to six years after purchase to make a claim i.e. take small claims action.

Another thing to take into account is how long a particular product is reasonably expected to last, taking into account normal wear and tear. Let's face it, a washing machine used for a family wash twice a day might not last as long as one used twice a week for a couple. You will know the answer to this question when you find yourself in a situation like this.

But if you reckon the product should still be working perfectly after three years, then the seller may still be liable to provide a remedy.

YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW

• When you buy something in a sale your rights are exactly the same.
• If you want to return something because you don't like it or it doesn't fit, then your legal entitlements don't kick in. Whether you can return unwanted goods or not and within what timeframe is entirely up to the seller, so ask before you buy.
• But when you buy online you have a cooling-off period of at least 7 days. During that time you can tell the business that you have changed your mind for any reason at all, return the goods and get a refund. You may have to pay for return postage however.
• If you have a manufacturer's warranty well and good, but remember that is a contract between you and the manufacturer and is separate to, and in addition to your legal entitlements as a consumer.
• So, if you have no manufacturer's warranty or an expired one, don't let the seller fob you off. They still have a legal obligation to you for the product or service they sold.
• A gift voucher is like cash with an expiry date. The expiry date is decided on by the business and you should know about it at time of purchase. So if you forget to use it before expiry the business does not have to accept it.

MAKING A COMPLAINT

Step 1
Make sure you have a valid complaint, so find out your what your rights are.

Remember that being armed with this knowledge gives you all the power you need to complain effectively.

Contact the National Consumer Agency for information on your rights: www.nca.ie

Step 2
Always complain to the retailer or service provider first. Try on the phone or in person first, and if that doesn't work put your complaint in writing to the manager or head of customer services. Keep copies of all correspondence in case you need to refer to it later.

Step 3
If you've exhausted all avenues with the seller, you need to look at other options. They include:

The Small Claims procedure is run through the District Court and you can make a claim against a business for up to €2,000. You pay a non-refundable fee or €25. You can claim against a business in Ireland or any EU country. www.courts.ie

If you have a cross-border dispute (within the EU), the European Consumer Centre can assist for free. www.eccireland.ie

Other:

Financial / insurance disputes: Financial Services Ombudsman www.financialombudsman.ie

Pension disputes: Pensions Ombudsman www.pensionsombudsman.ie

Air passenger rights disputes: Commission for Aviation Regulation www.flightrights.ie

Telecoms disputes: Commission for Communications Regulation www.askcomreg.ie

Energy disputes: Commission for Energy Regulation: www.energycustomers.ie

Private rental accommodation disputes: Private Residential Tenancies Board www.prtb.ie

Car disputes (against SIMI members only): Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) www.simi.ie