About The Processor Group

Strategic Goals

PROCESSOR GROUP - STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2006

OBJECTIVE

AMIC needs to identify and commit resources to issues that are of direct importance to member business, that AMIC can make a difference with and that cannot be progressed by the efforts of individual processors. Below are the six strategic priorities that the Processor Group are setting for 2006.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

1.     A Crisis Management Plan for AMIC Members

In the event of a BSE, FMD, terrorist attack and/or other calamity, what is the process to be followed by AMIC Members that will be in their best interests? AMIC to develop a Crisis Management Plan that is readily applicable to Member business with a plan to ensure Members understand and will apply the Plan.

Outcome Required

Continual development of a Crisis Management Plan for Processor Members with final endorsement by the APC.

2.     BSE & Beef Off-the-Shelves

Current regulations would require all beef products to be held from sale and removed from retail shelves in Australia if a case of BSE was identified. Together with the expected bans that would come in to place internationally, this would close every processing business in Australia unnecessarily. AMIC must advocate to remove this regulatory requirement on the Australian domestic market.

Outcome Required

Implementation by Government of regulatory changes that will not require beef to be removed from shelves in the event of a positive for BSE in Australia but that does not undermine current import requirements.

3.     A Uniform Transport Policy

Seek reform in those parts of the transport system where AMIC can make a difference, in particular where administrative or regulatory constraints establish inefficiencies and disadvantage that undermine a commitment to a uniform transport policy.

Outcome Required

AMIC respond to National issues as they arise and/or State-based issues where the cost is covered wholly by that State.

Example:

NSW Road Weight Limits - AMIC co-ordinate those sectors of the marketing chain in NSW affected by current discriminatory maximum road-weight limits in that State into a co-ordinated consortium and use that consortium to advocate for that disadvantage to be removed.

4.     Market Access is a No. 1 Priority

Market access is our No.1 priority. We cannot compete if we don’t have access to the market. AMIC to oversee the industry’s market access strategy with other industry stakeholders and government. AMIC to concentrate its efforts in those markets where it can make a difference and that are of particular importance to Members.

Outcome Required

·          China     -    Access for Beef tripe & independent processing facilities

·          Malaysia -    Re-accreditation for Australian beef plants for Halal slaughter

5.     AMIC/AQIS Strategic Planning Process

AQIS has asked industry to consider key issues that it sees as important for the formulation of a strategic plan for the certification of meat and meat products both in the international sphere as well as domestically over the next decade. This presents a significant opportunity to influence the type, scope and cost of the service to be provided in the future and should be a strategic priority to support and deliver against in 2006.

Outcome Required

AMIC to co-ordinate and deliver to Government  a considered view on the type and structure of the service we desire from AQIS in the future based on Member input and consensus.

6.     Social Challenges – Environment & Animal Welfare

i)               Environment

Deliver to all stakeholders a set of environmental guideline modules (namely – Industry Best Practice Guidelines) which define current environmental best practice for Australian meat processors demonstrating to the community the commitment the processing industry makes to protect our environment.

Outcome Required

Each state environmental authority to endorse or acknowledge the Industry Best Practice Guidelines.

ii)             Animal Welfare

Deliver high standards of animal welfare through the implementation of industry animal welfare quality assurance standards and associated training competencies. Upon implementing these standards, ensure continual improvement in animal welfare practice by benchmarking compliance and working closely with other sectors of industry and key stakeholders in animal welfare and government.

Identify key areas for further research and extension to improve animal welfare practices, including the participation in the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy in order to implement key projects relating to animal welfare policy and compliance.

Outcome Required

AMIC to work with meat processors and aid in the implementation and demonstration of the animal welfare standards.

AMIC to support the integration of animal welfare standards and principles into the current MINTRAC competencies and oversee delivery of these competencies within industry.

AMIC to identify key priorities for further research, extension and development in the area of animal welfare (eg. stunning and slaughter practice, handling practices, facility design, stress impacts on meat quality).

AMIC to identify key priorities for policy development and mechanisms for benchmarking in line with the key project areas outlined in the AAWS strategy.