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Target 10 Communicator

February 2011 Edition

NEW ERA OF COMPLIANCE FOR DAIRY FARM EFFLUENT

A new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between EPA Victoria and Dairy Food Safety Victoria (DFSV) will enable a consistent and streamlined regulatory approach to effluent management on dairy farms.

The compliance framework, to be developed in consultation with industry in 2011, will utilise audit information from DFSV’s approved food safety programs; build on current industry effluent management initiatives; and use current information to identify needs for education or extension programs.

EPA director Matt Vincent said the MOU was signed following a review last year which highlighted a need for a cooperative approach between industry and regulators to enable EPA to fulfil its regulatory obligation for dairy farm effluent management.

“Tapping into existing resources makes sense – the information collected by DFSV approved auditors as part of industry quality assurance programs will be communicated to the EPA which will then investigate further if risk of pollution or actual pollution is identified,” Mr Vincent said.

“A joint approach using the current DFSV audit management system will enable EPA to apply a consistent compliance approach to dairy farm effluent management.”

DFSV will collate this data collection and report to the EPA, while the EPA retains primary responsibility for resolution of any pollution incidents. Dairy farmers who elect to not participate in this process will remain under the direct supervision of the EPA.

Dairy Food Safety Victoria’s chief executive officer Dr Anne Astin said collaboration will continue with the National Farm Auditor Working Group and the Dairy Industry Senior Field Officer Group to identify appropriate performance measures to manage effluent on farm which build on the Dairy Gains program.”

“We encourage this collaborative approach so that goals around efficiency, food safety, and environment protection can be achieved in the most streamlined manner possible using existing systems and data collection.”

EPA is responsible for protecting surface and ground water quality in Victoria, including from sources of pollution from dairy farms.