The Dawn Group operates a Food Safety Management System under our HACCP plan, where training is given such priority that it operates from the top down.

Guaranteed product integrity begins on the farm. Dawn works in partnership with our suppliers, as well as our customers, to ensure that primary producers clearly understand and meet the exacting demands of the marketplace. Traceability from 'gate to plate' is achieved through meticulous batch coding. A strict welfare policy is insisted upon for animals entering the Dawn Group's processing plants and farm inspections are constantly in operation.

The animals supplied are procured directly from selected farms situated close to each of the Group's processing facilities. These farms are constantly advised by Dawn of the market requirements and are inspected regularly as part of the Group's farm assurance and welfare schemes.

At Dawn we have long recognised that it is ultimately the customer who judges the quality of our product. In emphasising quality, we are always concerned with the actual eating quality of our food, especially in terms of tenderness and taste.

Having selected top quality raw material, emphasis is then placed on hygiene, temperature control, proper maturation and top class distribution throughout the supply chain...... adding value to quality.

To find out more about our commitment to Food Safety see Production Standards

EFSIS (European Food Safety Inspection Service)

EFSIS approval is currently the generally accepted food safety standard for the food industry. EFSIS approval against the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has been awarded to all Irish and UK plants.

 Assured British Meat:

These standards cover criteria specific to the British meat industry. These standards are in addition to those required to comply with the general food manufacturing standards as instituted by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). ABM has the objective of independently assuring integrated and continuous food safety standards at all stages, across all products from gate to plate. Standards also include animal welfare and environmental issues that have a bearing on the wholesomeness and acceptability of a product. More information on this can be found in the Dawn Farm Assurance section of the site.

 SQBLA (Scottish Quality Beef and Lamb Association)

The objective of the Scottish Beef and Lamb Association is to provide independent assurances of rearing to the highest standards of animal husbandry and health and welfare. This standard covers seven sets of criteria (relating to all aspects of feeding, use of medicines and general care). Please visit http://www.qmscotland.co.uk/ for further information.

 SSSB (Specially Selected Scotch Beef)

The introduction of Farm Assurance in Scotland in 1990 was the first of its kind in Europe. Now over 6000 Scottish farms (representing 85% of all Scottish livestock) are independently inspected each year to ensure that the cattle and sheep are reared to the highest standards of animal husbandry, health and welfare.All adhere to the strict controls for feeding, use of medicines and general care, which ensures that consumer concerns and issues are fully addressed

 Guild Of Scotch Quality Beef Suppliers

In order for a plant to achieve accreditation from The Guild of Scottish Quality Beef suppliers it must comply with some stringent criteria. Amongst other criteria a plant must:> Meet agreed Product Specification for Scotch Beef Sides> Meet agreed Product Specification for Bone-In Primal Cuts of Scotch Beef> Meet agreed Product Specification for Boneless Primal Cuts of Scotch Beef> Meet agreed Product Specification for Boneless Manufacturing Beef (beef destined for further processing ie mincing/dicing)> Achieve a HAS score of 65 or above for slaughtering and deboning.> Comply with stringent Transport and Lairage standards.> Comply with rigorous Slaughter, Dressing, Classification and Chilling standards.> Meet agreed cutting packaging and labelling standards.> Comply with set storage and distribution standards.> Please visit http://www.qmscotland.co.uk/ for further details.

 Red Tractor

The red tractor is the logo indicating that a plants products are approved for the 'British Farm Standard'. All Dawn plants have been approved to the ABM standard as an add-on to the BRC accreditation. This potentially qualifies all meat supplied by Dawn Meats for the red tractor logo on retail packs produced in the UK.

FAWL (Farm Assured Welsh Livestock)

The 'Farm Assured Welsh Livestock' scheme operates to the same protocol as the FABBL inspection standards. The scheme standards covers six criteria:> Identification and Traceability> Farm Animal management> Environment and hygiene management> Feed composition storage and use> Housing and handling of the animals> Medicine and veterinary treatment.

FABBL (Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb)

FABBL is a farm assurance scheme recognised by the assured British (ABM) standard. It was set up in 1992 to provide a nationwide farm assurance scheme to instill additional confidence in British livestock production standards. A number of UK plants operate this scheme. Further information is available in the Dawn Farm Assurance section of the site.
   

Quality Assured Beef (BQAS)

Quality Assured beef has been sourced from farmers which are members of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme. In order to become a member of this scheme a farmer has to be nominated by a meat plant or else apply directly to Bord Bia for membership. On been nominated a farmer receives a membership pack which outlines all the requirements of the scheme. The farmers details are then passed on to an independent auditing body e.g. Efsis, who arrange to carry out an audit on the farm. The results of this inspection are passed on to Bord Bia, whose certification committee decide if the farmer is to be approved or not. On gaining approval the farmer is issued with a membership card which is valid for 18 months. Both the scheme, the auditing process and the certification process are fully accredited to the EN 45011 standard.