A total of 59,365 carcasses were inspected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) for carcass grading in 2025.

These inspections took place across 33 factories with both mechanical and manual grading plants inspected.

According to DAFM, all manual graders and machine graders were found to be operating within tolerance in 2025.

The table below details the carcass grading inspections undertaken by DAFM in 2025:

From 2021 to May of 2024, there were nine incidents where DAFM inspections identified carcass grading machines operating out of tolerance.

A spokesperson at the DAFM explained to Agriland that the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of April 20, 2017, governs the monitoring of carcass classification.

Checks on the performance of the carcass grading are conducted by a team of trained specialist staff in the Beef Carcass Classification Section within DAFM.

Performance of both the manual or mechanical grading is monitored at each inspection to ensure the manual grader or machine operates within tolerance at all times.

Where a machine or a manual grader is found operating outside of tolerance, the factory is notified to cease mechanical classification pending a service of the machine or to change a manual grader.

 The DAFM spokesperson said that the standards for machine-based carcass grading are set down in EU legislation.

"In this scenario, the factory must arrange for the grading machine to be serviced. When this service is completed, the DAFM is notified, and classification officers will conduct a further classification exercise."

This exercise involves verifying the grading of a minimum of 100 carcasses to confirm that it is in working within the legal tolerances.

Once confirmed that the machine is operating within tolerances, mechanical grading is allowed to recommence.

In all cases, the method of grading, whether manual or mechanical, is advised to farmers through their remittance dockets.