Interpretive guide for ASEAN GAP Good agricultural practices for production of fresh fruit and vegetables in ASEAN countries Environmental Management Module January 2007 Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables Project ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Project Copyright © ASEAN Secretariat 2006 All rights reserved Reproduction and dissemination of materials from this publication for educational or other non commercial purposes is authorised without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged Reproduction of materials in this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders Disclaimer The views expressed in this information product are not necessarily those of the ASEAN Secretariat nor does the ASEAN Secretariat vouch for the accuracy of the material No responsibility or liability will therefore be accepted by the ASEAN Secretariat in relation to any use or reliance on the material contained in this publication Reference to any other organisations does not constitute endorsement by the ASEAN Secretariat of those organisations or any associated product or service Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1.1 1.2 Purpose and scope of guide Guide sections Environmental hazards GAP requirements 10 3.1 Site history and management 3.2 Planting material 3.3 Soil and substrates 3.4 Fertilisers and soil additives 3.5 Water 3.6 Chemicals 3.7 Harvesting and handling produce 3.8 Waste and energy efficiency 3.9 Biodiversity 3.10 Air 3.11 Training 3.12 Documents and records 3.13 Review of practices Self-assessment checklist 33 Examples of documents and records 39 Appendices Glossary of terms References and additional information Acknowledgements Editors • Dr Robert Premier, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia • Mr Scott Ledger, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia Working group This publication was prepared by a working group involving representatives from all ASEAN member countries and the editors of this guide ASEAN representatives: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Jamalludin Haji Mohd Yusoff, Department of Agriculture, Brunei Darussalam Ms Hajjah Aidah binti Hj Hanifah, Department of Agriculture, Brunei Darussalam Mr Ly Sereivuth, Dept of Agronomy & Agricultural Land Improvement, Cambodia Mr Mean Chetna, Dept of Agronomy & Agricultural Land Improvement, Cambodia Ms Dwi Iswari, Directorate of Fruit Crops, Indonesia Ms Susiami, Directorate of Fruit, Indonesia Mrs Khamphoui Louanglath, Department of Agriculture, Lao PDR Mr Kham Sanatem, Department of Agriculture, Lao PDR Ms Y Bhg Dato’ Hjh Khamsiah bt Hj Muhammad, Deputy Director General Department of Agriculture, Malaysia Mr Mohd Khairuddin Mohd Tahir, Department of Agriculture, Malaysia Ms Norma Othman, Department of Agriculture, Malaysia Mr Mohd Hussin Yunnus, Department of Agriculture, Malaysia Mr U Kyaw Win, Myanma Agricultural Service, Myanmar Mr Ko Ko, Myanma Agricultural Service, Myanmar Mr Gilberto F Layese, Department of Agriculture, Philippines Ms Mary Grace Rivere Mandigma, Department of Agriculture, Philippines Dr Paul Chiew King Tiong, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore Ms Khoo Gek Hoon, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore Dr Supranee Impithuksa, Department of Agriculture, Thailand Dr Surmsuk Salakpetch, Department of Agriculture, Thailand Mrs Peyanoot Naka, Department of Agriculture, Thailand Ms Hoang Thi Dzung, Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam Dr Nguyen Minh Chau, Southern Fruit Research Institute, Viet Nam Ms Nguyen Thu Hang, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Viet Nam Cardno ACIL AADCP - Program Stream Management Team • Dr Iwan Gunawan – Program Coordinator, Jakarta, Indonesia • Ms Roida Megawati – Finance Officer, Jakarta, Indonesia • Ms Luthfiah – Travel Officer, Jakarta, Indonesia • Ms Deasy Widjajanti, Finance Officer, Jakarta, Indonesia ASEAN Secretariat Representatives • Dr Somsak Pipoppinyo – Assistant Director, Natural Resources • Ms Sri Dyah Kusumawardhani – Technical Officer, Natural Resources • Mr Htain Lin – Senior Officer, Natural Resources References The main source of information used to prepare this guide was the publication “Guidelines for Environmental Assurance in Australian Horticulture” The guidelines were produced by Horticulture for Tomorrow – a national project supported by Australia’s horticultural industries and funded by the Natural heritage Trust, through the Australian Government’s Pathways to Industry EMS Program The development of the guidelines was overseen by the project’s Technical Steering Committee, and produced under the auspices of Horticulture Australia Limited, which is managing the project in partnership with industry The Technical Steering Committee comprised of 10 leading practitioners from across Australia with diverse experience in developing on-farm assurance programs and environmental issues management Appreciation is expressed to Horticulture Australia Limited and the Australian Government for the use of their guidelines in preparing this Interpretive Guide Project funding The development of ASEAN GAP is an activity within the project, Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables (QASAFV) The QASAFV project is an initiative under the ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) The AADCP is funded by Australia’s overseas aid agency, AusAID, and Cardno ACIL Pty Ltd is AusAID’s Australian managing contractor for the program The QASAFV project is managed by RMIT International Pty Ltd in association with the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland The project contact person is: Mr Mick Bell Project Coordinator – Business Development Division RMIT International Pty Ltd Level 5, 225 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Tel +61 9925 5139 Fax +61 9925 5153 mick.bell@rmit.edu.au Introduction 1.1 Purpose and scope of guide ASEAN GAP is a standard for good agricultural practices to control hazards during the production, harvesting and postharvest handling of fresh fruit and vegetables in the ASEAN member countries ASEAN GAP is divided into four modules – Food safety, Environmental management, Worker health, safety and welfare and Produce quality ASEAN GAP has been developed to enhance the harmonisation of GAP programs amongst ASEAN member countries It covers the production, harvesting and postharvest handling of fresh fruit and vegetables on farm and postharvest handling in locations where produce is packed for sale This interpretive guide was designed to assist producers, packers, supply chain businesses, trainers, government representatives and others to understand the practices required for implementing the Environmental Management Module of ASEAN GAP It provides guidance on “what has to be done” to implement the required practices Separate interpretive guides are available for the other ASEAN GAP modules 1.2 Guide sections The guide contains background information on types of environmental hazards, guidance on implementing the GAP requirements, a self-assessment checklist to review compliance with the requirements, examples of documents and records, a glossary of terms and references and additional information Section Environmental hazards This section provides information about the potential environmental hazards Environmental hazards are negatives impacts that occur to the environment on and off the property as a result of the production, harvesting and postharvest handling of fruit and vegetables While there are many common hazards associated with farms and packing sheds, every property is different The particular circumstances of each property need to be considered when managing potential environmental hazards Section GAP requirements The good agricultural practices for controlling environmental hazards are grouped into 13 elements Each element has background information to explain how environmental harm can occur Specific information is then provided for each practice to explain what is required to implement the practice In some cases, two or more practices are grouped together as the guidance information is the same for both practices Section Self-assessment checklist The self-assessment checklist enables the level of compliance with the good agricultural practices contained in the environmental management module to be checked The relevance of the practices will depend on the location of the farm, type of produce, and the systems used for production, harvesting, handling, packing, storage and transport The person assesses whether the practice is done correctly or if attention is needed or if the practice is not relevant If attention is needed, the actions required are identified and recorded Section Examples of documents and records The section contains examples of documents and record forms that are required to implement various practices in the environmental management module The documents and record forms are examples only and other methods and formats can be used ASEAN GAP specifies the information that has to be documented and the records to keep, but does not specify how to document information and keep records Appendix Glossary of terms This appendix contains definitions for the abbreviations and terms used in the guide Appendix References and additional information This appendix contains references and additional information on control of environmental hazards Environmental hazards Environmental hazards are negatives impacts that occur to the environment on and off the property as a result of the production, harvesting and postharvest handling of fruit and vegetables While there are many common hazards associated with farms and packing sheds, every property is different The particular circumstances of each property need to be considered when managing potential environmental hazards The steps to controlling environmental hazards are as follows: Identify the hazards – What can happen to the environment on and off the property if something goes wrong? Assess the risk – What is the likelihood and consequence of the hazard occurring? Control the hazard – What good agricultural practices are required to prevent or minimise the risk of significant hazards? Monitor and review hazards – Are the good agricultural practices working and have there been any changes that introduce new hazards? The table below contains a list of potential environmental hazards and examples of environmental impacts The hazards are grouped into categories associated with land and soil, water, chemicals, nutrients, biodiversity of fauna and flora, waste, air and energy Section describes the good agricultural practices required to control the hazards Category Hazard Examples of environmental impacts Land and soil Soil erosion Sedimentation of rivers and waterways Nutrients and chemicals entering rivers and waterways – eutrophication Poor soil structure Compaction of the soil Increased run-off Nutrient depletion Salinity Reduction of arable land Loss of biodiversity Soil acidity and alkalinity Loss of productivity Reduction of arable land Sodicity (high sodium levels) Reduction of arable land Soil waterlogging Water Depletion of water resources Insufficient water supply and environmental flow Depletion of water table Rising water table and waterlogging Chemicals Poor water quality Contamination of water by fertilisers, chemicals, fuels, oils and sedimentation Contamination of environment from inappropriate storage, application and disposal of chemicals Contamination of surface and groundwater Contamination of drinking water Loss of biodiversity Soil contamination Adverse impact on other crops and adjacent properties Category Chemicals (continued) Hazard Examples of environmental impacts Spray drift Adverse affect on surrounding crops Disruption of Integrate Pest Management strategies Health risks for local residents Nutrients Degradation of soil and water Soil acidification Reduction of water quality – eutrophication Loss of biodiversity Biodiversity Loss of biodiversity Reduction of wildlife corridors Loss of aquatic habitats Changes in pest species Waste Degradation of soil, water and air Contamination of soil and water Greenhouse gas emission Inconvenience to local residents Depletion of natural resources Wasting non-renewable resources Waste disposal sites required (landfill) Air Dust Sedimentation of waterways Inconvenience for local residents Smoke Creation of greenhouse gases Inconvenience for local residents Greenhouse gases Global warming and climate change Noise Inconvenience for local residents Loss of biodiversity Energy Depletion of natural resources Wasting non-renewable resources Creation of greenhouse gases Source: Guidelines for Environmental Assurance in Australian Horticulture, Horticulture Australia Limited., www.horticulture.com.au 40 FARM PLAN Area/Crop Pest / disease score Date Business/Grower Name: Clear Pest / disease score Low 41 Medium High Monitoring result and action required Pest and Disease Monitoring Record Year/Season: Operator Stocktake Date purchased Date: Name of product Business/Grower Name: Name: Quantity 42 Place of purchase Date: Chemical Inventory Name: Batch no (where available) Manufacture /expiry date Method and date of disposal Date/ Time Block/ Row Crop stage/ target Business/Grower Name: Product Dilution rate 43 Application rate Year: Equipment / method Date safe to Comments/ weather Operator used conditions harvest or WHP Crop/ Variety: Spray Record Postharvest Chemical Record Business/Grower Name: Chemical Date Time Tank Size Chemical Tank Mixing Rate Top-up Fresh Fresh (F) or Top-up (T) 44 Comments Application Method Signature Chemical Authorisation This chemical storage shed is to be kept locked at all times …………………………….… is responsible for the use and storage of all chemicals used on this property, and the training and supervision of all staff who are required to use chemicals The following staff have authorisation to use chemicals: Manager’s Signature Authorised Person 45 Date Date Crop/ variety Business/Grower Name: Block Row Product 46 Supplier of product Application rate Fertiliser and Soil Additives Record Comments Operator Year: Date Crop Business/Grower Name: Variety Block/ row 47 Volume of water applied Irrigation Record Rainfal Comments Year: Chemical application Fertilising C = attended farm chemical user course ✔ = performs job and training completed Name Business/Grower Name: Irrigation Grading and packing Cleaning Personal hygiene Repairs and maintain 48 ✔✔ = performs job, training completed and has responsibility for area Harvesting Job Responsibility and Training Record Self assessment checklist Manager All Staff Manager Operator Manager Used irrigation lines and plastic mulches are rolled up and stored at on-farm holding sites awaiting appropriate disposal Used/ broken glass storage containers are identified and staff instructed for their collection while awaiting disposal Crop residues mulched/worked back into soil Packing shed waste produce collected and deposited in composting area Septic waste pump out by contractor as required Septic water dispersed through sub-surface absorption trenches Plastic – irrigation lines, soil covers Glass and wire Organic – crop residues, packing shed waste products Sewage – septic run-off, waste paper 49 All Staff Manager Maintenance staff Cardboard and paper are collected and compacted for recycling or disposal Machinery/vehicle spare parts and tyres are collected and stored in designated area until disposal Waste oil is collected and stored in waste oil holding containers in the machinery shed Some oil is reused on farm equipment When storage becomes significant, a waste oil collection contractor is contacted Where label directions require specialist solution disposal off-site, a contractor is contacted for pump out and disposal services Where label directions provide, spray and dip tank solutions are drained into absorption trench (operator signs/instructions are provided) Leftover spray and postharvest dip tank solutions are disposed of according to label directions Other drums (e.g fertiliser) are cleaned for minor reuse around farm (e.g rubbish bin) Manager Operator Manager Obsolete and unusable chemicals are stored separately in the chemical store and marked “not for use” Periodically dispose them through registered collection agency Rinsed chemical drums stored in holding area awaiting disposal to approved off-farm site Responsibility Management method Waste Management Plan Paper and cardboard Machinery and vehicles – oils, tyres, spare parts Leftover chemical solutions – spray tank and postharvest dip tank Obsolete and unusable chemicals and chemical containers Area / Waste type Business/Grower Name: Date Business/Grower Name: Problem and cause 50 Action taken to fix problem Corrective Action Report Signature/ date when problem fixed Appendix – Glossary of terms Abbreviations AADCP ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations AusAID Australian Agency for International Development GAP Good Agricultural Practice MRL Maximum Residue Limit QA Quality Assurance QASAFV Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables Terms Acidity The strength of an acidic substance, measured as pH – acid substances have a pH of 1-7 Alkalinity The strength of an alkaline substance, measured as pH – alkaline substances have a pH of 7-14 Biopesticide A pesticide that is manufactured from biological sources Biodiversity The variety of life on the planet, measurable as the variety within species, between species, and the variety of ecosystems Bunding Wall or similar structure designed to trap or contain liquid Competent authority An organisation or company that is a recognised authority to develop or monitor standards, rules of operation, codes of practice, regulations, and policies Examples include government departments, international committees such as CODEX, industry organisations, QA/GAP system owners, and auditing companies Composting A managed process where organic materials are subjected to moisture, heat and 51 microorganisms for a specified period to produce a product known as compost Contamination Environmental – the introduction or transfer of a hazard into the environment – soil, water, air Customer A business or person who buys or receives produce For example, a packer, marketing group, distributor, wholesaler, exporter, processor, retailer, or consumer Environmental hazard Negatives impacts that occur to the environment on and off the property Fertigation The application of nutrients through an irrigation system Field capacity The soil water content after rainfall or irrigation at the point where drainage stops Fumigation The applicant of a chemical to control pests in the soil or substrate, such as insects, diseases and weeds Eutrophication The enrichment of water by nitrogen or phosphorus, causing algae and higher forms of plant life to grow too fast, which disturbs the balance of organisms present in water and the quality of the water Good agricultural practice Practices used to prevent or reduce the risk of hazards occurring during production, harvesting, postharvest handling of produce Integrated pest management A system for managing pests that integrates multiple strategies to minimise the use of chemical pesticides, such as encouraging beneficial insects and microorganisms to flourish, good crop hygiene and plant health, regular monitoring of crops for pests, using biological control agents and soft pesticides, and selective use of chemical pesticides Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) The maximum amount of a chemical in fruit and vegetables for sale for human consumption, which is permitted by a competent authority Nutrient Element or compound essential for animal and plant growth Common nutrients in fertilisers are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium Nutrient leaching The process by which soluble nutrients in the soil are washed into a lower layer of soil or are dissolved and carried away in water Obsolete chemical A chemical that is no longer suitable for use For example approval for use of the chemical may be withdrawn, the chemical is older than the use by date, the container may be damaged and the chemical soiled Organic material/ product A material or commercial product originating from plants and animals and not from synthetic sources Persistent chemicals Organochlorine pesticides, heavy metals and other chemicals that remain for long periods in soil, water and the general environment (for example, herbicides in ground water) Pest An unwanted animal or plant Pesticide Products used to control pests – for example, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, fumigants Pesticides can be manufactured from chemical or biological sources Produce Fruit and vegetables (including herbs) Property The whole area of a farm or business It includes all houses, buildings, production areas, roads, fauna and flora, and watercourses within the surveyed boundaries of the property Corrective action Action taken to remove or minimise or prevent re-occurrence of a hazard Risk The chance of something happening that will impact upon a hazard It is measured in terms of likelihood and consequences Salinity A measure of how much salt is in water or soil Sedimentation The accumulation of earthy matter (soil and mineral particles) washed into a 52 waterway or water body that settles on the bottom Side dressing The application of a fertiliser or soil additive beside a growing plant either on top of or beneath the ground Site A defined area on the property – for example, a production site Sodicity A sodic soil has an exchangeable sodium level of more than 6% Soil additives Products or materials that are added to the soil to improve fertility, structure or control weeds Examples are animal manure, sawdust, compost, seaweed, fishbased products Soil erosion The wearing away of land surface by wind or rain Substrate Growing medium used in place of soil – for example peat, coconut pulp Target The item or site to which an activity is directed For example, applying a pesticide spray to a target crop to control a target pest or applying fertiliser to a target pad dock for crop nutrition Traceability The ability to follow the movement of produce through the specified stages of production and distribution Water quality Program The chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water Website EUREPGAPChileGAP www.eurep.org ChileGAP www.chilegap.com Freshcare On-Farm Food Safety Program (Australia) www.freshcare.com.au SQF 1000 and 2000 www.sqfi.com Thailand Q system, Malaysian SALM system, Singapore GAP-VF system, Indonesian INDON GAP system – QASAFV project website Wildlife corridor www.aphnet.org Linking of wildlife habitat, generally native vegetation, which joins two or more larger areas of similar wildlife habitat Workers All people working on a farm or in a business, including family members and contractors Appendix – References and additional information Global organisations • • • • World Trade Organisation of the United Nations - WTO www.wto.org World Health Organisation of the United Nations - WHO www.who.int Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations www.fao.org Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) www.codexalimentarius.net Publications: • Guidelines for Environmental Assurance in Australian Horticulture, Horticulture Australia Ltd – www.horticulture.com.au On-farm quality and food safety programs 53 54 ... guide for ASEAN GAP Good agricultural practices for production of fresh fruit and vegetables in ASEAN countries Environmental Management Module January 2007 Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit... the ASEAN member countries ASEAN GAP is divided into four modules – Food safety, Environmental management, Worker health, safety and welfare and Produce quality ASEAN GAP has been developed to... Environmental Management Module of ASEAN GAP It provides guidance on “what has to be done” to implement the required practices Separate interpretive guides are available for the other ASEAN GAP