8.8 Government Concerns in Improving EMS/QMS Systems
It is appropriate for government to be favourably disposed towards EMS/QMS schemes because: a) they can potentially be a part of every day management and decisions, b) they are potentially cost effective, and c) there is less risk of this policy mechanism generating adverse responses from farmers and firms. However, for these schemes to usefully achieve government goals, government agencies must be clear about the environmental goals they are seeking by both agricultural activity and location, and how these systems can work within the existing policy framework.
Table 6: EMS/QMS Performance with regard to Policy Goals |
|||
EMS/QMS |
Impact on |
Impact on |
|
Organic vegetables |
Reduced pollution potential |
In niche markets |
|
Dairy |
Minimal beyond RMA compliance |
In niche markets |
|
Deer |
Reduced erosion |
Market acceptability |
|
Lamb |
Possibly reduced erosion |
Market acceptability |
|
Pork |
Reduced effluent problems |
Reduced compliance costs |
|
Wool |
Possibly improved weed control |
Market acceptability |
|
Zespri Kiwigreen |
Reduced pollution potential |
In niche market |
|
NOSLaM |
Reduced erosion |
Minimal |
|
Objectives, policies and methods included in plans under the RMA should focus on the effects of activities, and include clear effects-based environmental performance standards wherever possible. Activities should only be are controlled where it is difficult, impossible or impractical to monitor their effects, or where they would be very costly to remedy or mitigate once they have occurred (Morriss, Warmington and Ingram, 1995).
In general, the policy instruments that can be used by councils to achieve their RMA objectives include:
economic instruments - mechanisms such as charges, subsidies, deposit refund schemes, transferable rights, performance bonds and non-compliance fees and offsets;
regulatory instruments - rules, standards, regulations and compliance conditions that define contracts and limits for what is acceptable or not - the command and control approach; and/or
participatory processes - processes that enable information sharing and learning.
Under Section 32 of the Act, "before adopting any objective, policy, rule or other method...." councils have a duty to consider the alternative means of achieving their purpose. This includes the extent to which any objective, policy, rule or other method is necessary. That means that any intervention at all has to be justified.
Having decided to address an issue, they also have to be satisfied that the approach proposed is the most appropriate. Councils can remain silent on an activity, or if they choose to take a regulatory approach, classify an activity as permitted or control it. (following Morriss, Warmington and Ingram, 1995).
The intent of the Act is permissive rather than prescriptive in the sense that the use and development of resources is permitted providing that the environmental outcomes are acceptable and sustainable. It is this "provided that" principle that is the key to the applicability of quality assurance approaches such as the EMS model to the RMA.
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