ANZ approved list for bushfire chemicals
The Need
AFAC supports the use of wildland chemicals that appear on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Qualified Products List (QPL). A number of Australian and New Zealand manufacturers have indicated that they wish to produce wildland firefighting chemicals but the cost and logistical issues associated with USDA testing creates a significant impediment to them doing so. Several Australian companies are currently undertaking the USDA process but this has caused issues for USDA as they do not want products that won’t be sold in the USA to appear on the USDA QPL.
To overcome this issue USDA have suggested, (via the Forest Fire Management Group), that Australia and New Zealand create its own QPL (known as ANZ QPL) for wildland firefighting chemicals and they have given their permission for their testing procedures to be adapted and used by AFAC as the basis for an Australia and New Zealand testing process.
Benefits and Strategic Alignment
Creation of an Australian and New Zealand QPL for only those products that appear on the USDA QPL that are sold in Australia and New Zealand is relatively easy but a significant amount of work will be required to reach consensus on an Australian and New Zealand testing regime that meets the varying environmental and operational requirements that exist between Australian States and Territories and New Zealand.
The potential benefits of an Australian and New Zealand testing regime and associated QPL are:
- faster approvals
- more innovation
- lower purchase prices for agencies through greater competition between suppliers
- better application of the environmental standards to Australian and New Zealand circumstances
- greater certainty on industrial relations issues on chemical safety.
A draft ANZ QPL has been compiled for three chemical types, long-term retardant, water enhancers and Class A foam and is available here.
Proposal
The main deliverable for the project is an Australian specific QPL and associated testing procedures.
The key milestones of the project are expected to be:
April 2011: Prepare for approval a detailed project plan
February 2010: Identify and establish a working group of agency and industry specialists to provide resources and technical expertise -COMPLETED
March 2011: Prepare a provisional Australian and New Zealand QPL by transferring suppliers from the current USDA list - COMPLETED
October 2011: Investigate environmental and safety standards applicable in Australia and New Zealand
May 2011: Draft Australia and New Zealand testing procedures for wildland chemicals by adapting the USDA procedures to meet Australian and New Zealand conditions.
September 2011: Identify and endorse independent test facilities and chemical laboratories
August 2011: Prepare a position paper for consideration or AFAC Council
November 2012: Prepare required documentation and systems to support the approved option
November 2013: Establish service arrangements and close the project
Consultation
Key stakeholders for the project are the member agencies and chemical suppliers. Consultation will also be required with:
- environmental protection agencies in each jurisdiction
- water supply authorities
- chemical and work safety agencies
- federal agencies.
The use of chemicals has been an industrial issue at times so consultation will be required with employee representative organisations. Draft documents for consideration and feedback as part of the consultative process will be provided to the:
- Rural and Land Management (RLM) Group
- Wildfire Aviation Technical Committee
- Community Safety Group
- Workforce Management Group
- Occupational Health and Safety Group
- Fire Equipment Development Officers Group
- Forest Fire Management Group
Governance
There is support from the RLM Group for this project to proceed and members of a working group have already been nominated. When consensus is reached on an ANZ testing regime and associated QPL a position paper will be prepared and endorsement sought from AFAC Council.
For more information on this project contact Gary Featherston, AFAC Manager Rural and Land Management
