Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Employees	4200
Agency executives	Conall O'Connell, Secretary Dr Rhonda Dickson, Deputy Secretary Rona Mellor, Deputy Secretary Phillip Glyde, Deputy Secretary
Child agencies	AQIS - Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service ABARE - Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics BRS - Bureau of Rural Sciences Biosecurity Australia AFMA - Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Website
www.daff.gov.au

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is an Australian government department. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s role is to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable.

DAFF policies and programs:

• encourage and support sustainable natural resource use and management
• protect the health and safety of plant and animal industries
• enable industries to adapt to compete in a fast-changing international and economic environment
• help improve market access and market performance for the agricultural and food sector
• encourage and assist industries to adopt new technology and practices
• assist primary producers and the food industry to develop business and marketing skills, and to be financially self-reliant.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

DAFF facilitates the development of self-reliant, profitable, competitive and sustainable Australian farm businesses and industries. Through consultation with industry, DAFF develops and implements policies and programs that help to assure product safety and integrity. Particular emphasis is placed on on-farm risk management that relates to food safety.

Divisions which fall within the broader department include: Sustainable Resource Management (Fisheries), Climate Change (Drought Assistance, Australia's Farming Future, Forestry), Agricultural Productivity (FarmReady, Animal Welfare, Crops Horticulture & Wine, Food) and Trade & Market Access (Free Trade Agreements). The Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) is made up of several divisions within DAFF such as BSG Quarantine Operations. BSG integrates the functions and responsibilities of the AustraliaQuarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), Biosecurity Australia (BA), Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health (PIAPH) and the Quarantine and Biosecurity Policy Unit.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is part of DAFF. AQIS manages quarantine controls at Australian borders to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. AQIS also provides import and export inspection and certification to help retain Australia's highly favourable animal, plant and human health status and wide access to overseas export markets.

Australia is free from a number of biological threats, such as foot and mouth disease, that have had major economic and environmental consequences for other countries.

As international travel has become easier, the job of keeping Australia free of unwanted pests has become more demanding. AQIS continuously looks to improve the effectiveness of the quarantine effort by working closely with other areas within DAFF to manage Australia's biosecurity system. AQIS works closely with other Australian Government agencies—such as Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Department of Health and Ageing, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and state/territory governments—to support their management of post-border detections and incursions of quarantine pests and diseases, and to support their own verification and certification activities for agriculture and food products.

Biosecurity Australia (BA)

Biosecurity Australia is an agency within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, responsible for recommendations for the development of Australia's biosecurity policy. Biosecurity Australia undertakes science-based risk assessments and provides quarantine policy advice to protect Australia’s animal and plant health status and natural environment. They also provide technical advice to enhance Australia’s access to international markets and participate in international organisations that set biosecurity standards.

See also

• Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC)
• Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
• Biosecurity Australia
• Bureau of Rural Sciences
• Australian Fisheries Management Authority
• List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation

External links

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Website