Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals - Introduction
Environment
Contents
Environment
General introduction / summary
Pre-farm
Pre-farm - Introduction
Fertilisers
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals - Introduction
Environmental Pests and Weeds - Introduction
On-farm
On-farm - Introduction
Natural resource base - Introduction
Pollution - Introduction
Pests and weeds - Introduction
Skills and Knowledge - Introduction
Transport
Transport – Introduction
Waste Milk - Introduction
Manufacture
Manufacture– Introduction
Water Consumption - Introduction
Wastewater - Introduction
Solid Waste - Introduction
Air Emissions / Dust / Odours - Introduction
Energy Consumption - Introduction
Chemicals - Introduction
Appendix 1:Risk Management Framework Tables
General introduction / summary
The dairy industry is very much a part of the Australian landscape. Australia’s 6,700 farms and are located across six different Australian States, with the estimated 1.65 million cow herd being managed in pasture-based farming systems[i]. Most dairy production is located in the higher rainfall coastal areas of Australia, although there are also several inland irrigation schemes that support significant dairy production. Milk processing and manufacturing facilities are a feature of many rural towns in dairy regions. The industry uses modern, sustainable processes, both to produce milk on farms and in processing the milk further along the supply chain.
Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd develops environmental policy on behalf of dairy farmers in Australia. Current natural resource policy priorities include: water; carbon tax; Carbon Farming Initiative[ii]; sustainability and drought. This policy is implemented by Australia as the national services body for dairy farmers and the industry.
To ‘protect and promote our industry’ is one of Dairy Australia’s three strategic priorities for the industry[iii] and Dairy Australia coordinates and funds a large portfolio of environmental programs in association with Government and other stakeholders to ‘reduce environmental impacts’. These activities align with the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework, of which environmental sustainability is a key priority. A key aim for the framework is to ensure selected sustainability indicators are clear, measurable, defendable and easily collated without significant cost and time burdens on farmers and processors.
The cornerstone of the Australian dairy industry's success in facilitating on-farm change is the industry-led Dairying for Tomorrow (DfT) program, managed by Dairy Australia. The projects and underlying philosophy of DfT actively encourage collaborative partnerships between the dairy industry and catchment managers to set targets for change on farms that contribute to healthy catchments and communities.
Dairy Australia also takes a lead role in addressing environmental issues of relevance to the whole industry, such as climate change, carbon emissions, water, nutrient and effluent, responses to extreme weather events, and sustainability reporting. The dairy manufacturing sector also takes their environmental responsibilities seriously and complies with a range of stringent environmental controls to minimise their impact on the environment.
The dairy industry, like other primary industries, has come under increasing pressure to report on and improve its environmental performance. The pressures for change have come from the public who are taking more interest in how the nation’s natural resources are being used by agriculture, and by dairy customers and consumers who are interested in how the dairy products they purchase are produced and manufactured. Community concerns are reflected in the complex layers of environmental legislation, and the industry works hard at the national and local level to ensure that individual dairy industry participants not only meet but exceed the minimal environmental standards required.
As a result of this demand to report on environmental performance and the sustainability of the industry, Dairy Australia and dairy manufacturers / processors have initiated annual Sustainability Reporting, with the objective to achieve a sustainable and profitable dairy production and supply chain, and enhance the dairy industry’s reputation among government, commerce and the wider community for responsible resource management. The increase in awareness on environmental sustainability has grown rapidly over the last 10 years resulting in a greater degree of scrutiny on products and services consumed. This has resulted in dairy customers, governments, NGOs, consumer groups, health professionals and dieticians questioning the environmental foot print of what is produced and consumed. As community concerns and expectations about the environment continue to grow, Australia’s milk manufacturers are being asked to demonstrate greater environmental responsibility and transparency.
Fortunately Australian dairy production leads the world in terms of sustainability, with the Australian dairy industry being the first in the world to meet the sustainability code[iv] of the world’s largest manufacturer of ice-cream Unilever.
Activities that have the potential to impact on the environment are strictly regulated in Australia. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities, coastlines, water and land resources, and heritage places — defined in the EPBC Act as matters of national environmental significance. Federal environmental legislation is administered by the Department of Environment.
National environmental objectives designed to assist in protecting or managing particular aspects of the environment are set out in National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPMs). The various NEPMs are underpinned by legislation and are implemented by each State jurisdiction.
National climate change policies are also developed and implemented through the Department of Environment. The Australian Government abolished the carbon tax with effect from July 2014 and plans to drive change through the Emissions Reduction Fund, the centrepiece of the Direct Action Plan. In addition carbon credit schemes are to be expanded through the Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative.
Although several components of the new government’s legislation to tackle climate change have yet to pass through parliament, the Government’s main policy objectives are to:
- Keep the 5 per cent emission reduction (below 2000 levels by 2020) target
- Keep the 20 per cent renewable energy (by 2020) target[v]
- Establish a $2.55 billion fund to pay businesses for emission reduction projects
- Create a 15,000 strong Green Army to conduct conservation work.
The Australian Government also plays a significant role in funding national programs to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. The National Landcare Program is the Australian Government's natural resource management initiative to set priorities and address environmental risks to the agricultural natural resource base. Practical outcomes include fencing and remedial work of water ways, regional weed and pest management programs and the like. The Australian Government also provides national leadership in water reform.
Pursuant to the Constitution (Clause 51), State and Territory Governments have the responsibility to protect the environment within their jurisdiction. State Governments set their own State Environment Protection Policies, referencing the NEPMs and other national environmental controls. Under State and Territory Environmental Protection legislation[vi]every person and industry is subject to the general environmental duty, which codifies the principle that 'a person must not carry out any activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm'. Controls on environmental (land, air and water) pollution and degradation are established through this legislation, with enforcement activities undertaken by State-based Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) or Departments of Environment. State Environment Protection legislation also exists for the management of water resources in the Murray Darling Basin[vii].
State and Territory Governments have also established statutory protections[viii] for the natural resource base, including native and threatened species, vegetation, biodiversity, catchments, and many other privately and publicly-owned natural resource assets. These include controls on pests and weeds on agricultural land and are regulated by a number of different State Government agencies. Large scale developments can require approvals from several different authorities before they can proceed.
In all States, Local Government is the consent authority for most dairy developments under Town Planning Schemes. Local Government legislation in most States allows local shire councils (Shires) to provide for the current and future needs of local communities and manage local resources. It also requires Shires to use the principles of ecologically sustainable development and restrict inappropriate development. Dairy developments (farms and factories) should be sited in appropriately zoned areas and may need a range of approvals from other environmental agencies before they can be considered for approval by Local Government. Under Local Government legislation, Shires also have the power to abate public nuisances. A public nuisance is one that interferes with public health, safety, property, enjoyment or comfort such as excessive noise, odours, lighting, dust, accumulation of waste, wandering livestock etc.
Environmental risk management systems in the dairy industry operate at the local, catchment, state-wide and national levels. They are based on positive actions taken by individuals within wider policy and regulatory frameworks set up by industry and the three levels of Government. Specific controls related to the pre-farm, farm and manufacturing sectors are discussed below.
Pre-farm
Pre-farm - Introduction
Many of the environmental risks of dairy production are addressed in the supply chain before milk is produced on the farm. For example, the risks to the environment from farm inputs such as fertilisers and agricultural and veterinary chemicals are largely controlled by regulatory controls at the points of import, manufacture and supply. These ‘pre-farm’ controls are in place to ensure that environmental toxins and contaminants are not brought into the country and/or distributed through the marketplace. Regulatory controls are supported by industry training and extension efforts to ensure suppliers (and farmers) are aware of the risks and the role they can play to mitigate them. Most industries that supply to the dairy industry also have quality management systems or product stewardship programs to reduce their impact on the environment.
Farmers operate in a free-market and influence supplier behaviours with their purchasing decisions. Most farms take their environment into consideration when purchasing goods, with the reduction of farm waste being a key priority.
Fertilisers
Inorganic fertilisers are a key input for many dairy farms. They can cause environmental issues at the farm level from nutrient leaching and run off, soil acidification and potentially the accumulation of impurities in agricultural land. Organic fertilisers and composts are also being used increasingly on many dairy farms. These risks are managed at the pre-farm level by controls on the supply of fertilisers and improving the skills of those selling and applying fertilisers to dairy farms.
Fertilisers – Standards
Fertilisers must meet quality (impurity) and labelling standards that are set out in State and Territory legislation. Although the legislation in each State is slightly different, the National Code of Practice for Fertiliser Description and Labelling (March 2011) developed by Fertiliser Australia is the national Standard that complies with all legislative requirements.
Australian Standard AS4454 (2012) provides a QA and commercial risk management framework for the production of composts, soil conditioners and mulches from recycled organic material.
Fertilisers – Regulatory Systems
Imported fertilisers are assessed by customs officials from the Department of Agriculture and most fertiliser products require an import permit. Fertilisers posing unacceptable risks to the environment (from impurities, pests, weeds and/or disease) are not allowed into Australia.
The description and sale of fertilisers in Australia is primarily governed by Acts and Regulations[ix] in each of the State jurisdictions. No State requires fertilisers to be registered. However, all have specifications for how fertiliser must be described and labelled, and for maximum permissible concentrations of certain impurities. Additional laws[x] come into force if the fertiliser includes an ingredient that meets the definition of being an agricultural chemical.
The application of fertilisers is not specifically regulated, but the existing controls on supplies are supplemented by other legislation addressing specific risks to the community from certain explosive fertilisers[xi]; a general duty of care to protect soils, waterways, the environment and natural resource base[xii]; and environmental pollution[xiii]. These laws are applicable to suppliers and retailers that that apply fertilisers to agricultural land.
Fertilisers – Market Forces
Fertilisers are graded based on the National Code of Practice for Fertiliser Description and Labelling (March 2011) and prices reflect quality and nutrient content.
Fertilisers – Industry / Commercial programs
The fertiliser industry runs its own national quality management program called FertCare. This is a training, quality assurance, certification and accreditation program delivered by independent third parties on behalf of the fertiliser industry. The various parts of the program are brought together by a licensing system. FertCare minimises the environmental impact of fertiliser applications by ensuring that fertiliser recommendations are appropriate and the products are applied in a manner that reduces environmental and other risks. FertCare covers most fertiliser retailers and distributors in dairy areas.
Dairy Australia has launched national Fert$mart program to assist farm nutrient decision making. Although primarily a tool for farmers, farm advisers are encouraged to align their advice to the dairy industry’s national nutrient management guidelines.
Fertilisers – Verification and Traceability
Fertilisers must be labelled appropriately, or advice notes given to purchases if the product is purchased/applied in bulk. The label includes information on nutrient content and level of impurities. Apart from the invoicing records, many fertiliser suppliers use sophisticated GPS mapping systems in their trucks to guide and record fertiliser applications. These records may be retained by the farmer within the farm’s food safety plan records.
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals - Introduction
The risks to the environment from the supply and use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals are thoroughly assessed well before the chemicals reach the farm. All agricultural and veterinary chemical products must be assessed and registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before they can be released onto the market place. The ‘pre-farm’ controls on registration and supply are supported by controls on the ‘use’ of chemicals that are discussed in the ‘farm’ section.
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals - Standards
Chemicals are assessed for potential environmental impacts during the product registration process conducted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA seeks advice from the Commonwealth Department of Environment for complicated environmental assessments. The risk assessment is based on the chemicals intended use, and the evidence (data and literature) provided by the applicant. Relevant international conventions and Standards are also taken into consideration.
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals – Regulatory Systems
Australia’s National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals is the regulatory framework controlling the supply (and use) of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in Australia.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the Government authority which evaluates and registers chemicals for use in agriculture. It is illegal under Federal law[xiv] to supply chemicals for agricultural or veterinary use unless they have been approved by the APVMA. The AVPMA evaluates the environmental safety of the chemical as a part of its evaluation. Instructions for the safe use (and disposal) of each chemical product is provided on the approved product label which must be attached to the chemical container. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) undertakes a similar role for industrial chemicals. The national registration processes ensure that chemical products are properly classified in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances and the Australian Dangerous Goods Code by SafeWork Australia. Specific controls on the handling, transport and supply of higher risk chemicals are applied through State law using these classifications. In some instances the suppliers/retailers of high risk chemicals, such as vets and chemical contractors, are licensed by State Governments.