ADDING VALUE 2013 Mike Buchan AIC Chairman Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk 1 Adding value For AIC Members, it is the ‘day job’ that takes priority and our attention.We see our trade association as being there to work and fight for our sector.Whilst AIC does just that, it is also important to recognise that it is a true confederation bringing together, with common cause, diverse sectors of the supply trade. Our latest issue of Adding Value illustrates just a few of the key issues being handled by the Peterborough team and committees. Irrespective of your interests, I commend this document for a glimpse of the breadth of your confederation’s activity. Bear in mind it covers only a handful of the hundreds of live issues being handled. Our wide ranging activity is good news for every Member, regardless of specific interest or geography. It means AIC is recognised as an authoritative voice within UK agriculture and as THE supply industry voice.Today, our views are actively sought by governments and regulators whose actions impact on our industry’s success. We continue to welcome new, suitably qualified members.This ensures we speak with ONE common voice for the greater good of the whole industry. At AIC, we never forget that we are a voluntary trade body.We recognise the importance of adding value to your subscription. Our aim is to support your business at every level from day- to-day technical matters to big picture issues with huge effects upon the bottom line. Listening to our members is vital to ensuring AIC meets your needs, which is why in 2013 we conducted a member survey. Overall, feedback was gained from over half of the Confederation’s membership. The results confirmed that AIC is delivering good value through its activities and services. It also provided valuable and constructive suggestions for areas of new activity. Lobbying activities were well-recognised, particularly those that affect more than one sector with the potential to either add costs, such as the greenhouse gas issues, or dramatically reduce profits, – such as proposed compulsory set-aside. The latter which has been averted through the Campaign for the Farmed Environment. Similarly, the assurance schemes operated by AIC Services gained high awareness and were overall well rated for being helpful. Amongst the areas cited for improvement were the website and other communications which are being addressed over the coming year. Awareness for lobbying campaigns carried out by AIC The Greenhouse Gas Action Plan for agriculture 78% Speaking out on CAP Reform Campaign for the farmed environment Working with the food chain The sustainable use directive Avoiding a £3 million proposed dioxin testing 74% 72% 66% 62% Managing fertiliser security 57% 60% Measuring up to Members’ needs Adding value Actively lobbying Delivering trade assurance Driving down costs Providing information 2 Mapping advice 4 Dioxin testing saves millions 7 Fighting for level playing fields 8 New seed trademark In this issue...
Transcript
ADDINGVALUE2013
Mike BuchanAIC Chairman
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 1Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 1
Adding valueFor AIC Members, it is the ‘day job’ thattakes priority andour attention. Wesee our tradeassociation as being
there to work and fight for oursector. Whilst AIC does just that, itis also important to recognise thatit is a true confederation bringingtogether, with common cause,diverse sectors of the supply trade.
Our latest issue of Adding Valueillustrates just a few of the keyissues being handled by thePeterborough team andcommittees. Irrespective of yourinterests, I commend thisdocument for a glimpse of thebreadth of your confederation’sactivity. Bear in mind it covers onlya handful of the hundreds of liveissues being handled.
Our wide ranging activity is goodnews for every Member, regardlessof specific interest or geography. Itmeans AIC is recognised as anauthoritative voice within UKagriculture and as THE supplyindustry voice. Today, our views areactively sought by governmentsand regulators whose actionsimpact on our industry’s success.
We continue to welcome new,suitably qualified members. Thisensures we speak with ONEcommon voice for the greatergood of the whole industry.
At AIC, we never forget that weare a voluntary trade body. Werecognise the importance ofadding value to your subscription.Our aim is to support yourbusiness at every level from day-to-day technical matters to bigpicture issues with huge effectsupon the bottom line.
Listening to our members is vital to ensuringAIC meets your needs, which is why in 2013
we conducted a member survey.
Overall, feedback was gained from over half
of the Confederation’smembership. The
results confirmed thatAIC is delivering
good valuethrough its
activities andservices. It also provided
valuable and constructivesuggestions for areas of new activity.
Lobbying activities were well-recognised,particularly those that affect more than onesector with the potential to either add costs,such as the greenhouse gas issues, ordramatically reduce profits, – such as proposedcompulsory set-aside. The latter which has beenaverted through the Campaign for the FarmedEnvironment.
Similarly, the assurance schemes operated byAIC Services gained high awareness and wereoverall well rated for being helpful.
Amongst the areas cited for improvement werethe website and other communications whichare being addressed over the coming year.
Awareness for lobbying campaigns carried out by AIC
The Greenhouse Gas Action Plan for agriculture 78%
Speaking out on CAP ReformCampaign for the
farmed environment Working with the food chain
The sustainable use directive
Avoiding a £3 million proposed
dioxin testing
74%
72%
66%
62%
Managing fertiliser security 57%
60%
Measuring up to Members’ needs
Adding value
Actively lobbying
Delivering
trade assurance
Driving
down costs
Providing
information
2 Mapping advice
4 Dioxin testingsaves millions
7 Fighting forlevel playingfields
8 New seedtrademark
In this issue...
Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk2 Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk
AIC’s involvementallows access to awider group ofstakeholders…
The UK agricultural sector faces manychallenges in the year ahead as well asseeing many potential opportunities. Issues such as climate change, the need toproduce more from land whilst impactingless and the need for improved levels offood security are throwing up strategicchallenges which the industry needs toaddress. This may mean determining thecorrect future priorities for R&D ordeveloping strategies for improvedknowledge transfer of R&D outcomes as well as ensuring opportunities for newentrants to the industry continue.
What is AIC doing?To ensure the views of AIC and itsmembers are heard in these different policyenvironments, AIC has committed resourceto engaging in a range of industry based
initiatives over the past year. Feeding theFuture, Centre of Excellence for UKFarming and FedAg UK are three suchinitiatives in which AIC staff have beeninvolved, helping to develop the approach,define the priorities and map out the future direction.
How does my organisation benefit?Industry initiatives play an important part in helping shape the industry’s futuredirection. As such, it is important thatmembers’ views are represented to ensurethis future shape is appropriate to theagricultural supply industry. AdditionallyAIC’s involvement allows access to a widergroup of other stakeholders to whom the activities of members can becommunicated and better understood.
Engagement shapes industry’s future
Clear calls from the Foresight Report onthe ‘Future of Food and Farming’, theFarming Regulation Task Force and theNatural Environment White Paper forstreamlining advice have driven an extensiveGovernment review of the advisorylandscape. Government has welcomed theopportunity to work with AIC to developan understanding of how the agri-supplyindustry delivers professional advice tofarmers.
What is AIC doing?A project with dedicated resource hasbeen developed by AIC to ensure thatGovernment fully understands the value ofAIC members in delivering professionaltechnical advice. Engagement with
members has been vital to map outexisting knowledge transfer systems thatdeliver on-farm advice. The project hasincluded extensive work to pull togetherR&D which supports technical advice andContinuing Professional Development(CPD) which provides quality assurance.The project findings will be released in the spring.
How does my organisation benefit?Whilst Government is considering severalmodels for future advice delivery, AIC hasbeen able to influence the approach. Thisensures commercial delivery systems,operated by Members, is recognised andnot duplicated.
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POLICY
Advice mapping shows AIC Members’ vital role in R&D delivery
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 3Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk
Defra draws confidence from GHG Action Plan
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AIC members havea fundamental partto play in deliveringthe AgricultureGHG Action Plan...
AIC Chief Executive David Caffall and other stakeholders joined David Cameron for lunch at Downing Street reflecting AIC’s established role in the industry
During 2012 government committed to analyse the effectiveness of its current approachto reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from English agriculture. In December, a Defra report included an assessment of progress made by the industry’s GreenhouseGas Action Plan: Government “welcomes the progress made so far by the IndustryPartnership” and considers it “realistic” that agriculture will meet its three million-tonneemissions reduction target by 2020 if the industry continues with its effort and focus.
What is AIC doing?As major providers of trusted, business-orientated advice to farmers, AIC membershave a fundamental part to play indelivering advice to support the AgricultureGHG Action Plan and have helpedGovernment conclude that farming is in agood position to meet its greenhouse gasemission reduction targets of three milliontonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2020. AIC’scontributions to the GHG Action Plan aremainly through BASIS and FACTS training
and the new Feed Adviser Register beinglaunched in May 2013, and indirectly byproviding farm supplies with a lower carbon footprint.
How does my organisation benefit?The 2012 Review suggests that Defraappreciates the benefits which an industry-led integrated approach to GHG reductiondelivers, compared to imposing single-issueregulations which would add costs to thesupply industry.
POLICY
The German dioxin ‘scandal’ highlighted the need for more detailed monitoring for dioxin in animal feeds. The EuropeanCommission initially proposed a monitoringregime that would have meant an additionalcost of £3million for the UK feed industry alone.
What is AIC doing?AIC actively engaged with its Europeancounterpart FEFAC and trade bodies inother member states to lobby against theextreme proposals. Furthermore, with expertinput from Member companies and UK feedfat suppliers, AIC was able to put forwardpractical, pragmatic and cost-effectivealternatives. By working together and pooling
results, AIC, on behalf of its members, is nowin a position to demonstrate to both the FSA and EU Commission that the sector ismanaging the risk of dioxin in compoundfeeds.
By the end of 2012, 45 samples had been tested and none had exceedances for dioxins/furans; dioxin-like PCBs or non-dioxin PCBs.
How does my organisation benefit?With an active trade body, capable of bringingtogether the UK industry and speakingauthoratively on its behalf, crippling monitoringcosts have been avoided. Instead, each UFASregistered site now pays a mere £135 a year.
Dioxin testing regime saves millions
Hard evidence to dispute the targetinitially proposed has paid dividends
Feedmills save £4.2 million with revised energy saving target
Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk4
Feedmill operators are committed toimproving mill efficiencies. Policy driverssuch as the Climate Change Levy and risingcosts of doing business all add furtherpressure to reduce energy consumption.However, mandatory climate change targetsmust be based on actual potential andfinancial feasibility, otherwise UK industrywill be unfairly disadvantaged. The feedsector has historically earned a good trackrecord – sometimes exceeding previoustargets and overall reducing relative energyuse by 23% from a 1990 baseline.
What is AIC doing?Thanks to the excellent detail receivedfrom feed members on the energy savingsachieved to date at compound feed mills,and the realistic technical potentialremaining, AIC has been successful inreducing the future Climate Agreement
Targets from 20% to 7.5% (for the period2008–2020). This percentage reduction isfair and importantly specific to the sector.The ability to extract and compute hardevidence into a strong case to dispute thetarget initially proposed has paid dividends.
How does my organisation benefit?Roughly calculated, the revised futureenergy savings target could potentially savethe animal feed compounding sector up to£4.2 million in unnecessary costs, associatedwith trading carbon as a result of targetsbeing set at an arbitrary level. At a timewhen businesses are risk adverse andworking on short payback periods, the pace of progress in capturing the remainingenergy savings potentials is still ambitiousbut realistic.
ANIMAL FEED
Working together hasavoided cripplingmonitoring costs
Managing the legacy of harvest 2012
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 5
CROP MARKETING
Meeting Greenhouse Gas requirements for biofuel chains
Within the Renewable Energy Directive(RED) there are evolving and increasingrequirements to determine and confirmlevels of Greenhouse Gas emission savings.UK figures for cultivation were developed in 2010 for the Department of Transport but with little industry involvement, resultingin a flawed and inaccurate document.Looking ahead, increased targets foremission savings within the legislation meanthere is a need to develop thoughts on howsuch data will be produced, captured andtransmitted through supply chains.
What is AIC doing?AIC initiated discussions with DfT officials inearly 2012 before widening the debate toinvolve other industry partners. Presenting
concerns on the inaccuracies and out-of-date nature of some information, DfTagreed for a revised report to be prepared.AIC, with industry partners were able topresent a case for revision to AHDB-HGCA who, recognising the importance ofthe issue, readily agreed to fund andundertake the work. The updated andrevised report was agreed with DfT andsubmitted to the European Commission atthe end of 2012. We now await formalapproval. AIC will continue to discuss howprovision of information will evolve overthe next few years ahead of futureincreases in emission savings alreadyenshrined within the RED.
How does my organisation benefit?
Obtaining EU approval for the revisedreport will allow the UK to use defaultfigures across all main production areas,simplifying management and reducing thecost of meeting the RED requirements.Looking further ahead, developingstrategies to meet the future REDrequirements RED will ensure the UK can continue to operate in all of the food,feed and non-food chains.
The impact of weather on harvest 2012 was extreme by anyone’s estimation. Theresulting issues with quality, and specificweights in particular have led to all parts ofthe industry, from farmer through to primaryprocessor, incurring additional costs andlogistical complexity. Subsequent publicairing of the issues by grower representativesserved to escalate the issue and wassignificantly at odds with AIC’s public plea forall parties to work together to limit impactsand maximise opportunities and returns forthe 2012 crop.
What is AIC doing?Through discussions with both membersgenerally and Committee membersspecifically, AIC first sought to understandthe scale of the issue and the degree of
concern at producer level. Feedback in allcases pointed to a very low level of disputewith many individual farmers recognisingtheir quality difficulties and seeking ways tomitigate the problem. Throughconversations and meetings AIC, sought toprovide a more factual base to the qualityissues whilst also quantifying the financialimpacts on merchants, storekeepers,processors and end users. Meetings withthe NFU involved all levels including senioroffice holders.
How does my organisation benefit?AIC, Committee members and officeholders have sought to both protect theposition of the merchant but alsocommunicate the significant additional
effort undertaken by members and theirstaff, with the associated additional stressthat this has brought. At the same time themeetings and briefings given by Committeemembers has been aimed at minimisingcost to members, particularly throughunwarranted disputes.
EU approval willsimplify managementand reduce the cost of meeting REDrequirements
Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk6
As analytical techniques evolve, food andproduce is screened for an increasingnumber of pesticides. Levels must be belowthe maximum residue level (MRL), which isan indication that pesticides have been usedaccording to good agricultural practice –safety levels are much lower than the MRL. Advanced analysis is also allowinglaboratories to routinely identify and quantifylower and lower levels of pesticides.Reporting limits (the lowest calibrated levelused to detect residues during analysis) havealso decreased. An example of the effect ofimproved analytical techniques appears in the2009 Defra Expert Committee on PesticideResidues in Food (PRiF) annual report. Thisindicated that the number of apple sampleswith no pesticide residues above the
reporting limit decreased from 28% in 2000to 9% in 2009. Whilst posing no issue forhuman health, it could give the impressionthat residues on apples are increasing. In factit reflects an increase in the number ofpesticides monitored and a decrease inreporting limits.
What is AIC doing?AIC, together with the Crop ProtectionAssociation (CPA) and the National FarmersUnion (NFU) met with the ChemicalsRegulation Directorate (CRD) and individuallywith representatives from the British RetailConsortium (BRC), the Food and DrinkFederation (FDF) and the Institute of GroceryDistribution (IGD) to raise awareness of theconsequences of lower detection levels and
seek support for reporting limits formonitoring residue compliance to be set at0.01mg/kg as a minimum (equivalent to 1 partin 100 million).
How does my organisation benefit?If laboratories continue to refine analysistechniques this could lead to a desire toreduce reporting limits further. This couldundermine consumer confidence in UKpesticide use and food production, when infact only detection techniques had improved. Itcould also lead to costly, time-consuminginvestigations to trace miniscule amounts of‘unexplained residues’ in produce which mayarise due to cross contamination.
Achieving workable outcomes from the Sustainable Use Directive
Maintaining the balance in pesticide residue testing
As the Sustainable Use Regulationsdeveloped, it was proposed that distributorsshould implement checks to ensure thatindividuals purchasing professional plantprotection products held a certificate ofcompetence. AIC argued that this wouldachieve little in terms of pesticidestewardship as the purchaser is often not the end user of a pesticide. In addition,implementing such checks would be a huge cost as well as an administrative burden to members.
What is AIC doing?AIC lobbied the Chemical RegulationDirectorate (CRD) and the pesticide ministerto continue the legal requirement for all usersof professional pesticides to hold a certificate
of competence. In addition, AIC highlightedthat the proposed measures to checkcertification at the point of sale would be ahuge cost to all distributors. Publication of thePlant Protection Products (Sustainable UseRegulations) in July 2012 indicated thatdistributors or vendors of professionalpesticides are not required to check ifpurchasers or intended users hold anappropriate certificate of competence.However, the requirement for all users ofprofessional pesticides to hold a certificate ofcompetence continues as a legal requirementwithin the new Regulations.
How does my organisation benefit?Had the requirement to only sell professionalpesticides to certificated individuals been part
of the Plant Protection Products (SustainableUse Regulations), AIC members estimatedthat costs would have ranged from £30,000 to£75,000 a year for individual distributorbusinesses. In addition, business efficiencywould have been impacted with long backlogsat peak usage periods.
AIC members have agreed to advisecustomers of the legislative changes andremind them of the requirement to hold acertificate of competence when usingprofessional pesticides.
CROP PROTECTIONAND AGRONOMY
Members estimate extracosts could have beenover £30,000 a year
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 7
FERTILISER
Over the past decade, a relationship of trusthas been built between AIC and the Defrastatistics team. Hours of patience anddiscussion go into refining the AIC fertiliserconsumption statistics and reviewing themagainst fertiliser usage figures to presentthe best data sets possible each year.These data contribute to bothEuropean and International trends in fertiliser consumption.
What is AIC doing?Participant members in the AIC statisticscollection process complete monthly and sixmonthly returns enabling collation of apicture of fertiliser consumption andproviding members with the benefit ofmonthly data on a timely basis. However,over the years, Government and otherorganisations have come to rely on the
annually published summary data for theirown use and reference. This activity is nowheld in high regard and the published datahelps with the process of fertiliser forecastingthroughout the industry and the offices ofWhitehall, Stormont, Holyrood and Brussels.
How does my organisation benefit?The direct benefit is for fertilisermanufacturer members submitting theirstatistics and receipt of timely collatedreturns showing the overall state of themarketplace. However, the summary dataare available to all members in pdf and slideformat, presented together with data fromthe British Survey of Fertiliser Practice. At acountry-level, members can be confident thatthe data on nutrient use consumption byfarmers is an accurate reflection of practice.
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At European Commission level, there is aconcerted move to update and harmonisefertiliser regulations to include all fertilisingmaterials – including organic and organo-mineral fertilisers, soil improvers, limingmaterials, growing materials andbiostimulants. In broad terms, this is awelcome move. Harmonisation will helpcreate a level playing field and address theneed for improved controls on certainwaste materials that are marketed asfertilisers. There was a particular need toaddress member states’ concerns aboutthe principles of Mutual Recognition whichcan force them to accept product
produced to lower standards than previousnational regulation would allow.
What is AIC doing?Staff from AIC and its member companies, aswell as Fertilizers Europe and the EuropeanFertilizer Blenders Association, have engagedwith the ad hoc working groups that ranthrough 2012 looking at issues ranging fromoverall regulation and nutrient content topackaging and labelling. Throughout theprocess, we have sought practical solutionsthat simplify the regulatory burden and avoidreducing the high standards set by the UKfertiliser industry. The output from the working
groups will now be consolidated by the EUCommission who will prepare proposals fordiscussion by the main technical workinggroup, the Council and the EuropeanParliament with a view to new regulationscoming in to force during 2014/15.
How does my organisation benefit?AIC has been able to ensure a coherentindustry voice has been heard during thediscussions and within the working groups. Aunified UK voice is vital to avoid any negativeimpacts of tighter controls and to ensureregulations that are practical for the industryare devised.
Fighting for a level playing field in fertiliser regulations
Maintaining the rangeof UK crops remains in the interest of allmembers.
Underpinning a response to global issuessuch as food security, climate change andsustainable development, is the role of theplant breeding and seed sector. Fullyrecognising the link to maintenance of cropgenetic improvement to achieve this, hasbeen less prominent. Plant breeders andthe seed sector recognise a need tohighlight the critical role IP protection plays in supporting investment, innovationand independent evaluation and the benefitsfor both farmers and the wider food andfeed sector.
What is AIC doing?AIC has joined with the British Society ofPlant Breeders in a project to develop anEU-registered PVR Trademark as a unique
form of intellectual property to protect,stimulate and reward progress in cropimprovement. The new trademark waslaunched at the Seed Industry Dinner inDecember 2012.Next year will focus onpromotion and securing wider industrysupport.
How does my organisation benefit?Building a longer term awareness andappreciation of the benefits which the plantbreeding and seeds sector brings is aimedat securing the seed sector’s role in futureproduction. Maintaining investment in plantbreeding will support a competitive farmingindustry as well as a dynamic and successfulseed supply chain.
New Trademark to maintain investment
The use of neonicotinoid insecticide seedtreatments has been under focus for thepast few years as a result of bee relatedissues in other parts of the EU. Morerecently the European Food SafetyAuthority has been asked to produce areport which has just been published andwhich draws attention to potential risks tobees in certain circumstances, includingtheir use on crops such as oilseed rape,wheat and sugar beet. With such productsused extensively as seed treatments in theUK there are concerns at the impact arestriction of use, or even removal, couldhave on UK agriculture.
What is AIC doing?AIC and its Committee members havebeen working with seed treatmentmanufacturers both in the UK and EU aswell as with the European Seed Association
(ESA) to both develop additionalstewardship measures, including the nowoperational European Seed TreatmentAssurance (ESTA) scheme, and to providemore information and assurance toregulators on the safe use of theseproducts in appropriate, professionallymanaged, treatment premises.
How does my organisation benefit?With neonicotinoid seed treatments beingwidely used on a range of crops in the UK,including oilseed rape and wheat, whereusage continues to rise, any significantrestriction on their use, or loss or approval,would have very significant knock-on effectson the profitability of such crops in therotation and therefore market demand andmarket opportunity. Maintaining the rangeof crops produced in the UK remains in theinterest of all members.
Protecting Responsible Seed Treatment Usage
www.agindustries.org.uk
INFLUENCE WHERE IT MATTERS
Former AIC Scotland Chairman Ralph MacLeod meets EUCommissioner Dacian Cioloş
AIC Chairman Mike Buchan with Allan Bowie, Deputy Presidentof NFU Scotland
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 9
NFU President Peter Kendall and AIC Chairman Mike Buchan
AIC Chief Executive David Caffall and NFU President Peter Kendall
David Caffall with David Heath, Minister for Food and Farming
AIC Chief Operating Officer John Kelley with David Heath,Minister for Food and Farming
Jim Nicholson, MEP, with David O'Connor (left) and Robin Irvine(right) from the NIGTA
MEP Stuart Agnew attending Agribusiness 2013
Adding Value 2013 www.agindustries.org.uk10
TRADE ASSURANCE
Over recent years UK authorities havebeen challenged by the FVO and the EUCommission about the level of testing for undesirable substances in animal feed. Atthe same time feed businesses frequentlyask how much analysis they should carryout.
What is AIC doing?The FEMAS scheme has always been based on the principle that each companyshould assess the hazards associated withthe feeds they produce/ supply, and managethose risks accordingly. Testing itself is notseen as a control but rather verification that controls in place are effective. Theproposed calculator, which will launch inearly 2013 gives a benchmark against whichFEMAS participants will be assessed toensure all relevant hazards are identifiedand that their controls are verified at areasonable frequency.
How does my organisation benefit?AIC has held discussions with many FEMASparticipants to test the calculations behindthe system to ensure that all relevant issuesare covered without excessive costs for theindustry. By including this minimum level oftesting in the FEMAS scheme will make iteasier to communicate with the authoritiesregarding the testing taking place withinindustry.
FEMAS Calculator
The European Seed Treatment Assurancescheme (ESTA) was devised by theEuropean Seed Association (ESA) inresponse to EU Directive (2010/21) which requires insecticidal seed treatmentsto ‘only be performed in professional seedtreatment facilities’. The directive resultsfrom instances of bee deaths in Germany,Austria and France, particularly associatedwith treated maize seed.
What is AIC doing?AIC has been instrumental in writing theESA’s umbrella scheme as well as the UKversion of ESTA. ESTA trial audits have
been conducted along with trainingsessions in Peterborough and Edinburgh.The UK standard is now available on theAIC website with an application form toorganise an audit.
How does my organisation benefit?ESTA has been produced to preserveessential plant protection products, protectthe environment and to maintaininternational trade and on-going investmentfor the seed industry. It can be achievedwith a stand-alone inspection or it can beadded to an existing TASCC audit, thussaving time and money.
ESTA
All relevant issues arecovered without excessivecosts for the industry
TRADE ASSURANCE
Adding Value 2013www.agindustries.org.uk 11
AIC is seeking ‘earnedrecognition’ for transportsecurity
Health and Safety Forum addresses feed sector risks
A common complaint amongst fertiliserbusinesses in recent years has beenduplication of inspections betweengovernment agencies and the FIAS scheme.
What is AIC doing?AIC has worked with governmentdepartments and agencies to ensure thataccount is taken of FIAS certification whenassessing risks associated with a business. As a result HSE has notified several FIASbusinesses, covered by COMAHregulations, that they will no longer besubject to HSE inspections. AIC has alsobeen consulted with the Department forTransport to gain ‘earned recognition’ forFIAS regarding transport securityrequirement within ADR.
How does my organisation benefit?As certified FIAS participants, companiescan increasingly expect fewer routine visitsfrom government agencies. As well as savingmanagement time, HSE has recentlyintroduced ‘Fee for Intervention’ whichmeans that any business found not tocomply with regulations, will be charged thefull HSE costs incurred in rectifying theproblem.
FIAS reducing burden on fertiliser businesses
Agriculture has the worst accident recordof any UK industry with an annual averageof 45 work-related deaths. The Health andSafety Executive (HSE) is now alongside theagricultural industry to reduce this number.
What is AIC doing?AIC has formed the Feed Sector Healthand Safety Forum made up of H&Smanagers from feed member companies.The Forum’s brief is to identify areas ofconcern and develop industry agreed plansto remedy issues.
Areas of work to date include:
• writing ‘Safe deliveries on Farm’ guidance to ensure industry works towards goodpractice and reduces the delivery sites withpoor access and lighting, unsafe or home-made storage bins, uneven or unstable
ground, overhead cables and traditionalbuildings which are simply too small.
• An update of the ‘Control of Fire andExplosion Risks in Animal Feed Mills’guidance document to include the latestDangerous Substances and ExplosiveAtmospheres Regulations and ATEXregulations.
This Forum model could be rolled out toother AIC sectors if required by members.
How does my organisation benefit?Health & Safety is a huge concern foragriculture and the agrisupply industry. By working together, the industry canexchange ‘best practice’ which will hopefullyreduce fatalities within the sector.`
By working together, theindustry can exchange‘best practice’
Adding Value 201312
MEMBER BENEFITS
The new AIC website will have improved usabilityin terms of its navigation, search and contentfacilities.
Ensuring member satisfaction through added value
Change remains the only constant and AIC is continually seeking to innovate to ensuremembers gain real added value from theirtrade association. This includes researchingmembers’ views (see front cover),responding to needs, improving existingservices and launching new ones.
What is AIC doing?The past year has seen considerableinvestment behind the scenes in upgradingdatabases to ensure Members receivefocused and relevant information for theirneeds. The coming year will see a number of new initiatives launched, all focused onenhancing member benefits. A new website is nearing completion, the Feed AdviserRegister will be launched with full support
from a dedicated website. While provencommunication tools such as MemberBriefings, AIC Journal, Trade AssuranceUpdates will continue; as will our face-to-facemeetings including Sector and Regionalmeetings as well as the ever popularAgriBusiness Conference will continue.
How does my organisation benefit?Rapid and effective sharing of knowledge is vital for every business today. Whether it is national or European regulations; orindustry knowledge and intelligence; AICaims to deliver sound knowledge backed byindustry expertise and insight. Operating asa Confederation of various sectors, AIC canprovide your business with the biggerpicture day in, day out.
The sector home pages are all a lot clearer andeasier to navigate.
The assurance pages have new and enhancedcapabilities.
Agricultural Industries Confederation Confederation House, East of England Showground, Peterborough, PE2 6XE.Tel: 01733 385230 Fax: 01733 385270 Email: [email protected] www.agindustries.org.uk
