A new partnership to deliver the new Dairy Export Assurance Program has launched to cut red tape, streamline audit arrangements and open up trade market access opportunities for farmers.
The Department is partnering with Dairy Australia to deliver the Dairy Export Assurance Program's project deliverables, with a multidisciplinary team working collaboratively across the Department and Dairy Australia.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the program would help build a stronger, export-ready sector.
"This program will identify the regulatory hurdles for domestic dairy manufacturers to become exporters, and reduce regulatory intervention through improved data collection," Minister Littleproud said.
"Helping our small to medium exporters to better understand the regulatory compliance step-change required to become export ready will ultimately support our Ag2030 agenda for a $100 billion agriculture industry by 2030.
"The program will work with industry to align food safety in regulatory and commercial assurance programs.
"Stronger demand for our products will maintain upwards pressure on farm gate milk prices, build greater confidence in the industry and create a more encouraging environment for capital investment at both the farm and processing steps in the dairy supply chain.
"The projects will work with industry to develop awareness training and increase capability for producers, exporters and state regulators to better understand the key differences in food safety and regulatory standards required to meet export and importing country requirements.
"These initiatives also aim to reduce the audit burden by reviewing requirements and seeking recognition across audit compliance systems. This supports existing work undertaken by state regulators to achieve greater levels of compliance and data supporting regulatory intervention.
Dairy Australia Managing Director, David Nation, said:
"Exports are a vital part of the Australian dairy industry and account for around a third of annual production. In an increasingly competitive global market, it is essential that Australian companies are able to access key export destinations.
"This initiative will support dairy companies to expand their operations into export markets by improving their knowledge of, and compliance with, a more streamlined export regulatory process.
"Dairy Australia is pleased to have been invited to work in this unique collaboration model with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to deliver these benefits to Australia's dairy industry."
Fast Facts:
- In March 2020 the Australian Government announced $14.78 million to 2024-25 to build understanding and capability within the dairy sector; and to prove new ways of managing the dairy export regulatory system.
- In October 2020 a further $328.4 million was announced to help reform Australia's export system.
- The value of the dairy export industry in 2019 was $3.2 billion with 490 dairy establishments registered for export.
- Since 2019, the Australian Government has delivered on its election commitment to support our dairy farmers by ensuring a fairer go for dairy businesses and keeping families on the farm while creating a stronger business environment with better regulation, healthier market competition, and more competitive supply chains.
- The government has already established a deregulation taskforce to drive improvements to the design, administration, and effectiveness of the stock of regulation to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose.
