IRIS Tasmania: Governance and Regulation

Dairy

Under the Dairy Industry Act 1994 the Tasmanian Dairy Industry Authority (TDIA) issues and monitors the conditions of licences for dairy farms, factories and vendors. Licensees must comply with the Tasmanian Code of Practice for Dairy Food Safety. In addition, dairy farmers must comply with the Code of Practice for Farm Dairy Premises and the Code of Practice for Managing Dairy Effluent together with any company requirements.

The TDIA also acts as the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service authorised agent for Tasmania?s dairy exporters to facilitate export to overseas countries.

Red Meat

The State?s Meat Hygiene Act 1985 and the Commonwealth's Export Control Act 1982 are overseen by the Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW). In addition, DPIW administers the Animal Health Act 1995.

Sheep and wool

The Department of Primary Industries and Water administers the farming of exotic sheep breeds under the Animal Farming (Registration) Regulations 2005. Sheep quarantine into and out of the State is controlled by Departmental veterinary officers who often act as agents for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.The State's Meat Hygiene Act 1985 and the Commonwealth's Export Control Act 1982 are overseen by DPIW. In addition, DPIW administers the Animal Health Act 1995.

Vegetables

The Department of Primary Industries and Water manages a Seed Potato Certification Scheme, which operates under the National Standards for the Certification of Seed Potatoes.

The Commonwealth Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994 aims to encourage plant breeding and innovation through the granting of a limited commercial monopoly to breeders of new varieties. Plant Breeder's Rights are exclusive commercial rights to a registered variety. The rights are a form of intellectual property, similar to patents and copyright.

Onions intended for export overseas must satisfy the standards laid down under the Commonwealth's Export Control Act 1982. Australian Quarantine Inspection Service inspectors make regular visits to all packing sheds to inspect random selections of bagged onions.

Produce intended for export overseas must satisfy the standards set under the Commonwealth's Export Control Act 1982. There is also a range of quarantine requirements for products entering and leaving the State.

Fruit and nuts

There are no specific regulations covering the pome fruit industry, though strict quarantine requirements apply to material and fruit shipped into and out of Tasmania, and especially into markets such as Japan.

Other crops

Responsibility for control of the poppy industry is mandated by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (as amended by the 1972 Protocol), and is shared by the Commonwealth and State Governments. Research is undertaken by the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, a joint venture between DPIWE and the University of Tasmania.

In respect to opiate manufacture, the Commonwealth Health Department is the 'special administration' established in Australia under the 1961 Single Convention and has responsibility for approving manufacturing quotas for the production of opiate alkaloids from Tasmanian grown poppies. Responsibility at Government level for the security/law enforcement aspects of the poppy industry is jointly shared by State and Federal Police, the Commonwealth Health Department and the Poppy Advisory and Control Board. The Poppy Advisory and Control Board sits administratively within the Department of Justice. The State control of narcotic substances is controlled under the Poisons Amendment (Poppy Advisory and Control Board) Act 2008, with growers being licensed under this Act and subject to security checks prior to gaining a crop contract.

While the industry is not directly regulated, Government has quarantine oversight requirements to ensure that seed imported into Tasmania for product development meets strict weed and disease standards.

Tasmania

State of Success

Agriculture Governance and Regulation