FQAS participants encouraged to use digital services

Participants of the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS) are reminded online services are available to enable timely access to a range of services. Via lmcni.com participants can instantaneously access scheme documentation and make payments.

Encouraging NIBL FQAS participants to utilise the available digital services, Gillian Davis, LMC Head of Quality Assurance said, “The online service has been developed to offer producers timely access to key documentation, such as FQAS record books, feed records and veterinary medicine records, alongside providing an alternate option for payments for renewals and initial scheme applications. Telephone payment continues to be available to FQAS participants during normal office hours.”

Following a routine NIBL FQAS assessment some participants may find that they are required to submit documentary evidence, this too can be done electronically by email or WhatsApp. Gillian added, “We would encourage producers to utilise this service where possible to ensure that outstanding evidence can be received and processed as efficiently as possible.

“Overall, our range of digital services creates mutual benefits, offering producers the benefit of reduced reliance on postal services or in person collections, while also enabling improved efficiencies from an operational point of view. When documentation or payment is received digitally staff can swiftly update participants accounts, this mitigates against unnecessary delays that we see occurring from time to time when mail or courier services are utilised.”

FQAS is committed to increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact, the growing use of digital services is a key tool in progressing this. Gillian continued, “Moving forward, we will investigate how electronic services can be further developed to reduce reliance on paper and postage, in turn providing a more timely and effective service for producers.”

FQAS participants can expect to receive communications regarding the gradual shift towards increased digital communications in the coming months. All information participants require will be communicated in advance of any updates to how FQAS communicates with its producers.