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Performance
Performance Indicator One
Acceptance by participating industries and trading partners that the survey design for each commodity is technically sound, is risk based and is structured to meet its objectives within agreed budgets.
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Achievements |
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| Industry and trading partner acceptance of NRS monitoring projects |
Residue monitoring projects for each grain and horticulture commodity within the program were designed, operated and reviewed by NRS, with the cooperation of, and to the satisfaction of, the peak industry bodies. Industry used the results of residue monitoring projects to underpin it's marketing and market access strategies. For example, commodity-specific results reports prepared for the grain industry are used by grain marketers and handlers such as AWB Limited, ABB Grain Limited, Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd (WA) and GrainCorp to provide assurance to overseas customers that Australian grain is independently monitored for residues. Similarly, the macadamia nut, onion and pome fruit (apple and pear) industries utilise their respective commodity residue monitoring data to demonstrate to overseas markets their ongoing compliance with Australian Standards. |
| Chemical selection for the Ninth Term (2008-2001) laboratory contracts | Following extensive consultation with industry during 2007–2008, the relevant grain industry bodies agreed to the inclusion of many new chemicals to be analysed in grain samples during 2008–2011. The levels of reporting have also been adjusted (in some cases lowered) to reflect export market pesticide tolerances. |
| Horticulture project review | During 2007–2008, NRS reviewed the horticulture monitoring projects for apple and pear, onion, macadamia nut and blueberry. The review showed that sample numbers remained appropriate for forecast production levels and that sampling procedures required no revision. Industry participants remained satisfied with turnaround times for results and continued to find the international maximum residue limit (MRL) databases helpful for marketing purposes. Following consultation with industry representatives, minor adjustments were made to the pesticide screens to reflect changes in the registration of chemicals for use on particular crops, as well as chemicals with perceived market sensitivities. |
Performance Indicator Two
Delivery of projects in accordance with agreements between NRS and participating industries, including annually reviewed agreements with respect to:
- sampling rates
- turnaround time from sampling to presentation of test results
- reporting of contraventions to regulatory authorities.
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Achievements |
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| Agreements with industry | NRS complied with all agreements for projects on behalf of industry, including visits to grain establishments. For example, visits to domestic grain establishments continued, to ensure that appropriately trained staff understood the agreed procedures and guidelines for obtaining grain samples. |
| Updated sample collection and operational guidelines provided to industry | During 2007–2008, NRS provided updated sample collection guidelines to relevant export and domestic grain and flour mill establishments. Also, plant product residue monitoring industries received updated operational documentation concerning current sampling regimes and handling requirements for samples. Industries reported that the sample collection and operational guidelines were an accurate reflection of agreed residue testing project requirements for 2007–2008. |
| Sampling rates | Within the constraints of product availability and other key parameters, including laboratory turnaround time, NRS achieved all agreed sampling rates. The sampling rates were comparable with previous years. |
| Reporting results to industry |
Stakeholders received over 95% of export grain results and 96% of domestic grain results within agreed timeframes. The agreed target is 90%. One of the objectives of the ongoing visits to grain establishments is to examine adherence to sampling procedures and guidelines to ensure that the good record of reporting timeframes continues. Where appropriate, NRS provided results of horticulture testing to individual producers and/or packing sheds to support industry quality assurance programs within agreed general turnaround times. |
| Traceback and reporting residue contraventions | NRS reported contraventions to the relevant state or territory government regulatory authorities within agreed timeframes. State and territory governments have agreed to develop a policy framework for traceback of residue contraventions of Australian Standards and international detections. Through the State Residue Coordinator Forum, convened by NRS, traceback protocols are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and coordinators have the opportunity to raise concerns for discussion in relation to traceback investigations. |
Performance Indicator Three
Presentation of high-quality and timely plans and reports on results to trading partners, industry and the Australian Government.
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Achievements |
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| Grain and horticulture reports |
NRS routinely prepared plans and reports for participating industries. Industry-specific reports on results were prepared for all grain and horticulture products, with their preparation timed to coincide with relevant industry annual general meetings and/or executive meetings. Grain and horticulture marketing bodies use NRS reports to demonstrate the residue integrity of their products. |
| Reports to Australian Government | NRS provided advice to the Food and Product Safety and Integrity Branch of the Department for briefings to executive and government on market access to Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea in relation to a number of commodities including canola, barley, wheat, and pome fruit, and more general issues relating to changes in food standards laws and changes to maximum residue limits. |
| Results of NRS plant products random residue monitoring projects 2007–2008 | The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture continues to recognise Australia’s residue testing program as equivalent to the US domestic residue testing program for market access purposes. |
| Equivalence between Australian and European Union residue testing programs | Detailed results of the grains random residue monitoring project can be found on pages 110–157 of this report and results of the horticulture project on pages 158–165. In addition, the results are posted on the NRS website.1 |
Performance Indicator Four
Interaction and communication with participating industries is effective.
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Achievements |
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| Industry consultation | NRS consulted peak bodies of all participating grain and horticulture industries extensively to ensure that they remained informed of the operational, management and financial aspects of the residue monitoring projects. Each industry is routinely kept abreast of the progress of each project and advised of any difficulties as they arise. |
| Field tours of grain and shipping terminals | NRS continued field tours to domestic grain establishments, including stockfeed manufacturers, feedlots, maltsters and flour mills, to ensure that proper sampling procedures were known. Several new domestic establishments were added to the list of participants, including container exporters. Most establishments in Australia have now been visited by NRS staff. The grain industry fully supports the purpose of these field tours because they assist in ensuring the integrity of sampling. |
| Reviews | Following the 2003 Grains Review, NRS continued to review further elements of the grains project that facilitated the export container and bag sub-project and increased the number of analytes in the pesticide screen. Results from the regular six-monthly reviews undertaken by W J Murray Consulting Services continued to confirm NRS's performance in meeting industry requirements for the operation and management of the program. |
| Presentations by NRS | NRS submitted the residue monitoring plan and to-date results of the 2006–2007 financial year to Apple and Pear Australia Limited (August 2007), the Apple and Pear Annual General Meeting and Conference (September 2007), the Grains Council Executive (November 2007), the Onion Industry Annual General Meeting (October 2007), the Australian Macadamia Society meeting (March 2008), and the National Working Party on Grain Protection (June 2008). |
| Awareness-raising articles | NRS officers submitted articles on NRS projects to Onions Australia and the Tree Fruit Journal. |
| Food standards for key markets | Food standards (macadamia nut, onion and pome fruit) for some key international markets are available on the NRS website.2 |
01 Mar 2010