Community service obligation funding

Overview

The Australian Government provides funding for community service obligations (CSOs) that contribute to broader government and community objectives and to international commitments. CSO funds enable NRS officers to develop synergies between industry-funded projects and activities in Australian and international forums, for the mutual benefit of industry and government. The NRS input into departmental and other government projects is also funded through CSOs.

Appropriation funding is provided to NRS for residue-related project work that falls outside the cost-recovered residue monitoring projects and surveillance, compliance and residue prevention projects of participating industries. These activities include:

  • advising ministers and assisting them to provide high-quality service to the public
  • providing scientific information to the Department on product residue issues
  • participating in and providing technical input to relevant national and international committees such as the Australian Government Primary Industries Ministerial Council, the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, their associated standing committees, the National Association of Testing Authorities and the Codex Alimentarius Commission
  • facilitating cooperation and information exchange between NRS and Australian, state and territory government authorities that are involved in residue-related activities
  • complying with government legislative requirements and contributing to the effectiveness of relevant government policies
  • conducting residue-related investigations in the public interest.

Outputs

NRS community service outputs are:

  • policy and technical advice to the Australian Government and associated state and territory agencies
  • provision of appropriate residue-related expertise to national and international committees
  • participation in, development of, and compliance with general government legislative and administrative requirements
  • management of relevant levy-related legislation
  • reports on and input into policy development for emerging residue issues relevant to NRS
  • participation in residue-related investigations in the public interest.

Performance Indicator One

Timely provision of high-quality policy and technical advice to ministers and relevant Australian Government agencies.

Achievements

Policy advice

All NRS policy and technical advice to the minister or the parliamentary secretary was of high quality, accurate and timely. For example, advice was given to the minister regarding the National Residue Survey Operational and Expenditure Plan 2008–2009.

Performance Indicator Two

Effective participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other national and international forums.

Achievements

Representation on Codex Alimentarius Commission committees

NRS was represented on three Australian delegations to Codex committees.

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF)

A NRS officer was part of the Australian delegation that attended the meeting of CCRVDF in Breckenridge, Colorado, on 3–7 September 2007.

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

A NRS officer continued as the Australian delegation leader for the 40th meeting of CCPR (Hangzhou, China, 14–19 April 2008). The NRS officer prepared the Australian brief in cooperation with the delegation members. In addition, the NRS officer oversaw the CCPR Electronic Working Group on Priorities, and chaired the CCPR plenary session on prioritisation of chemical evaluations.

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)

A NRS officer was alternate leader of the Australian delegation to the meeting of CCMAS (Budapest, Hungary, 10–14 March 2008) and provided input into the development of Australia’s position on a number of issues relevant to NRS, in particular the acceptance of analytical methods, the establishment of performance criteria for analytical methods, and the resolution of disputes over analytical results.

EuroResidue VI conference

A NRS officer attended the EuroResidue VI conference (Egmond an Zee, The Netherlands, 19–21 May 2008) which concerned residues of veterinary drugs in foods, and presented a paper titled ‘The presence and metabolism of endogenous androgenic-anabolic steroid hormones in meat-producing animals: a review’ at an accompanying workshop that preceded the conference. The NRS officer is a co-author of the paper, which is to be published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants.

European Pesticide Residue Workshop

A NRS officer attended the European Pesticide Residue Workshop (Berlin, 1–5 June 2008) which concerned the analysis and assessment of pesticide residues, and presented a paper titled ‘An Australian approach to chemical residue management: concepts, programs and results’. In addition, the officer visited the German analytical reference laboratory and a chemical manufacturer.

Performance Indicator Three

Productive working relationships with relevant Australian, state and territory government authorities on residue management issues.

Achievements

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation

NRS continues to be accredited with NATA as a proficiency testing provider.
Meetings and teleconferences

NRS liaised with residue coordinators for meat and plant products of regulatory authorities within the state and territory governments. The key issues addressed were traceback investigation agreements, information-sharing on respective residue testing projects, and communication strategies to facilitate responses to international residue violation matters.
Advice on violations of food standards

During 2007–2008 there were several international residue-related trade incidents in which the Department required technical advice from NRS.

Performance Indicator Four

Effective and efficient management of levy-related legislation, general legislative issues and other government business relevant to NRS.

Achievements

Levy consultation with industry

NRS completed a full review of levy receipts for 2006–2007 and consulted with industry concerning the need to maintain industry IEAs in the NRS Special Account at levels that would sustain industries’ testing projects for 2007–2008 and beyond. As a result, it was agreed that no changes to levies were required.

Performance Indicator Five

Effective and efficient conduct of investigations on residue-related issues yielding national benefits.

Achievements

Residue incident tracebacks

NRS notified state and territory governments of residue incidents that required traceback investigation, in accordance with the memorandums of understanding signed by state and territory governments.

Residue incidents in exported produce

NRS informed state or territory government regulatory residue coordinators when residues exceeding the relevant standards in Australian produce were detected by importing countries.

Management of horticultural produce residue incidents

NRS is working with Horticulture Australia Limited, state and territory governments and industry on a project to establish formal arrangements for the timely management of international incidents that result from the export of Australian horticultural produce.

Outlook

NRS will continue to provide community service obligation activities in response to ongoing or emerging needs.

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Last reviewed:
24 Sep 2009
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