The Market Security Committee is responsible for work previously conducted by the Animal Welfare and Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Committees. It has also taken some of the portfolios previously held by the VFF Economics Committee.

In general the Market Security Committee deals with those issues that impact on access to market and regulation of animals and chemicals. The port folios managed by the committee are listed below.

• Regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals
• Use of chemicals
• Issues that affect the pricing and availability of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
• Addresses general and non-commodity specific animal welfare issues
• Consultation on Animal Welfare Codes of Practice
• Food labelling
• Biotechnology
• Chemical residues
• Quarantine
• Bio-security

Market Security Chairman and Committee Members



Chairperson

Ailsa Fox

Ailsa has a family farming business producing beef, lamb and wool. Ailsa was the President of the Livestock Commodity Group for four consecutive years as well as a Director of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority for nine years. She was formally a Councillor for the Shire of Mansfield, a Commissioner of the Shire of Murrindindi and a delegate to Cattle Council of Australia. Ailsa also holds the position of VFF Junior Vice President.



Additional Members

Member Peter Cochrane

Peter is a vegetable grower on the Mornington Peninsula. Peter is the immediate past president of the VFF Horticulture group, has been involved in chemical use issues for many years.

Member Lisa Dwyer

Lisa is a dairy and beef farmer from South West Victoria. Lisa is secretary of the McArthur VFF branch.

Member Kate Joseph

Kate is a livestock farmer (prime lambs) from Tyrendarra. She is also a VFF Livestock Group Councillor.

Member Peter Tischler



Market Security Issues



National Harmonisation of Agricultural and Veterinarian chemicals.

The VFF has provided a submission to the National Scheme for Assessment, Registration and Control of Use of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals consultation regulatory impact statement. The submission focuses on our concerns about the proposal to move all states to the same regulations around how agricultural and veterinary chemicals can be used. For growers this means that the off-label access that is currently permitted in Victoria may significantly altered.

A copy of the VFF's submission can be found below.

VFF Submission: Control-of-use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals (171kb)

Livestock Management Bill

A national model of regulation for animal welfare standards is currently being implemented. This entails the development of national codes with standards and guidelines that will need to be incorporated into State Legislation.

Currently the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA) contains the animal welfare codes in Victoria. The DPI is pursuing a new model to incorporate the new national codes. The view is to take these codes out of an Act that has a purpose of dealing with cruelty as the primary function and place them in an Act that is targeted at animal management.

This on face value seems reasonable but there is some concern. One proposal by the DPI suggests including a bio-security management component into the Act with a QA system approach of demonstrating compliance both with the welfare standards and bio-security.

The Market Security Committee is in consultation with DPI to keep abreast of the content of the proposed Bill to ensure farmers are not overwhelmed by red tape and restrictive regulation.



Bio-security

Bio-security is becoming increasingly important both in preventing disease outbreaks in crops and livestock and in controlling weeds and pests. The VFF is in consultation with DPI on the implementation of the Bio Security Strategy and the Invasive Pests and Weeds Management Framework.

The objectives of the VFF are to obtain the most effective systems to prevent incursions onto farms and into the State and controlling the spread of those already present.