The Irish Quality Oyster is an oyster with distinctive characteristics aimed at obtaining a top quality product able to withstand the judgement of the most demanding oyster gourmet.
In order to assure that this goal is reached, Irish oysters farmed under the IQO scheme are controlled under clear identifiable characteristics, which can be communicated to the consumer in a clear message:

Irish Quality Oysters have a high meat content, and are not milky.

Control.
The respect of both national and EU legislation during all farming stages is annually controlled by an independent accredited auditor.

Environmentally friendly farming.
Not only is oyster farming by nature a highly environmentally friendly activity (link to page, oyster farming) but IQO producers are encouraged to use environmental best practices and traditional farming techniques in collaboration with the other sea users.

These communication points are transposed in the IQO scheme which requires producers to supply IQO oysters that have been farmed in Ireland for at least 12 months on trestles in oyster bags, with a meat yield superior to 13.5 %, a shape index less than 3 and have committed to environmental management.