National Organochlorine Residue Management (NORM) program

To manage the risks of persistent organochlorine contaminants being detected in beef products, the National Organochlorine Residue Management (NORM) program was established.  The program is supported jointly by the Cattle Council of Australia, the Australian Lot Feeders Association and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (or equivalent) in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.

The focus of the NORM program is on active management of OC broadacre and point source contamination at the farm level with a view to minimising trade risks to the beef industry and preventing OC contaminants in food products exceeding domestic food standards (ERLs).

Chemical residue status

In 1995, all cattle properties were allocated an OC chemical residue status based on their previous testing history.  Nationally, all property statuses are listed on the Extended Residue Program (ERP) database.  This database is maintained and managed by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).   Properties previously classed as clear (C) are now referred to as no ERP status.  Saleyard operators and abattoir management access the ERP database, prior to sale or slaughter, to determine the OC status and the relevant contaminant testing rates.

Current ERP database OC status classifications and testing criteria:

ERP status	Property OC risk status	Testing rate	Product fate	Payment for tests
T4	Very High	100% of lots <10 in lot, 1 targeted sentinel	Test sentinel (s) and hold all If result is > 50%MRL test all companions	Commercial arrangements apply *
T3F	High	100% of lots 1 targeted sentinel	Test sentinel and hold all If result is > 50%MRL test all companions	Industry funding #
T3V	High	100% of lots 1 targeted sentinel	Test sentinel and hold all If result is > 50%MRL test all companions	Commercial arrangements apply *
T1F	Reduced	100% of lots 1 targeted sentinel	Test sentinel and hold all If result is > 50%MRL test all companions	Industry funding #
T1V	Reduced	100% of lots 1 targeted sentinel	Test sentinel and hold all If result is > 50%MRL test all companions	Commercial arrangements apply *

* Costs for residue analysis are a commercial matter between the abattoir and the vendor.

# Industry funding is used for residue analysis for 12 months from the initial status assignment.  Statuses will change to T1V and T3V automatically after 12 months unless resolved by Residue Management Plan.

NOTE:  All other properties not listed above are classified as No ERP status and includes those properties on a Resolved (R) status.

New property registration

When an application is made for a Property Identification Code (PIC), for a property which has not been previously registered or associated with another PIC, the property is regarded as having no ERP status and is recorded on the MLA´s Extended Residue Program (ERP) database as No ERP status.

MLA has developed the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program to assist producers to ensure that unacceptable chemical residues and contaminants do not occur in livestock presented for slaughter.  One of key elements of the LPA program is property risk assessment, the desired outcome of which is that livestock are not exposed to areas on the property that are contaminated with OCs or other persistent chemicals. 

Information regarding LPA (for example, residue risk assessment) is available by contacting MLA on telephone (freecall) 1800 683 111 or follow the link at the bottom of this page.

Residue Minimisation Plan (RMP)

All properties with a T and R status require an approved Residue Minimisation Plan (RMP).  The plan is required for properties at risk of producing cattle with OC contaminant levels exceeding the Australian ERLs.  The plan incorporates a risk assessment of the property and land use, and livestock management details (movements, feeding, assessment of contamination etc.).  RMPs allow management of cattle to ensure that OC contaminants do not exceed legally defined limits (ERLs).

DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland officers are available to assist producers in developing an RMP for their property.  Please contact your nearest Biosecurity Queensland office for further information.

The plan is audited at regular intervals to ensure compliance with specified management arrangements, and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and continue to be suitable for minimising the risk of OC contaminants in animals presented for slaughter.

Is your property at risk?

Areas of OC contamination could exist on properties where any of the following apply:

• paddocks where sugar cane, fruit, small vegetable crops and other orchard crops were grown prior to 1987 (OCs were used extensively in these enterprises)
• timber cattle and sheep yards built prior to 1987 (OCs, such as dieldrin, were often used for termite control)
• old sheep and cattle dips and races in use before 1965 (there is likelihood that OC-containing chemicals were used in these dips).

Six recommendations to minimise the risk of OC contaminants in cattle

1. Do not feed:

• stubble from crop which has been grown on land previously treated with OCs
• by-products that have been in contact with OC-contaminated soil.

2. Do not graze:

• in orchards or other areas which have been treated with OCs at some time in the past - if in doubt, have the soil tested
• on pastures or fodder crops which have been grown on land known to have been previously treated with OCs.

3. Purchase fodder/by-products only from a reputable source and seek an enforceable guarantee that it is free from OC contaminants.  Further details on livestock fodder declarations can be obtained from the MLA (follow the link at the bottom of this page).

4. Beware of:

• grain storage facilities that have been treated with OCs, particularly those with concrete or earthen bases that may still be contaminating grain
• loads of grain containing a significant amount of dust - this dust may be contaminated from the storage facility
• storage facilities suspected of OC contamination - these should be tested and decontaminated as recommended by DPI&F
• stock chewing or licking fence posts or other structures that may have been treated for white ant control using OCs or otherwise contaminated with OCs
• holding stock in old timber yards which may have been treated with OCs or which have been associated with an old dipping facility where OCs may have been used
• structures previously used to store OCs eg old chemical storage sheds, shearing sheds - these could be a special problem
• stock gaining access to chemical storage areas where OCs may have been stored previously.

5. Prevent stock from accessing old chemical disposal sites.

6. Collect a soil sample from any suspect sites for analysis for OCs.  

The DPI&F OC Detector Dog service could be used to assess any sites of concern for OC contaminants.  The dogs have the ability to isolate contaminated areas with 98% accuracy, reducing the number of soil tests needed and the total cost of cleaning up a site.  Their services are available on a fee for service basis.  For further information, please call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or follow the link below.

Organochlorines in soil

A significant proportion of OC contaminant problems in animals are caused by consumption of contaminated soil.  The amount of soil consumed depends largely on the amount of grass cover and ranges from 20 to 1200 grams per day. 

Information on the risks posed by contaminated soil and sampling for chemical analysis can be obtained by following the link below.

Further information

Contact your local DPI&F biosecurity inspector or veterinary officer.

DPI&F Business Information Centre

• Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
• Persistent organochlorine contaminants in soil
• Persistent organochlorine (OC) contaminants in cattle