Environmental management
Industry environmental codes
These are codes approved by the Minister under section 548 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act). They state ways of achieving compliance with the general environmental duty for activities that cause or are likely to cause environmental harm. They are generally prepared by industries or industry associations to give clear guidance to their members on measures they should take to prevent or minimise environmental harm.
Environmental codes have very specific roles under the Act. An environmental code is one of the factors the administering authority needs to consider in making certain decisions. It is also a defence to a charge of unlawfully causing environmental harm if it can be proved that you were complying with the terms of an approved code of practice (section 436(3) of the Act).
Preparing a code is a voluntary action taken by industries who want to take a step towards greater environmental responsibility. Similarly, complying with a code is voluntary - it is not an offence to not comply with a code. However the defence mentioned above is available to operators who are complying with the terms of their code that are relevant to the issue in question.
More information on the role of environmental codes and a model for preparing them can be found in an EPA guideline, Preparation of Codes of Practice for approval under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
Environmental codes are approved by the Minister by gazettal in the Government Gazette. To date, the following codes have been approved:
Environmental code of practice for agriculture
- Proponent: Queensland Farmers Federation
Approved: 27 March 1998
Available from: Queensland Farmers Federation
(07) 3017 1333
Cost: No cost but $5.00 postage fee for multiple copies.
Sustainable cane growing in Queensland
- Proponent: Canegrowers
Approved: 9 April 1998
Available from: Canegrowers
(07) 3864 6444
Cost: Fees apply
Sustainable fruit and vegetable production in Queensland
- Proponent: Qld Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Approved: 10 June 1998
Available from: Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers
(07) 3213 2444
Cost: Out of print
Railway noise management codes of practice
- Proponent: Queensland Rail
Approved: 3 December 1999
Available from: Queensland Rail
Cost: Nil
Environmental code of practice for Queensland Piggeries
- Proponent: Queensland Pork Producers Inc and Department of
Primary Industries
Approved: 25 March 2000
Available from: Department of Primary Industries.
Contact Bookshop on 1800 816 541 or email
Cost: Fees apply
Queensland dairy farming environmental code of practice
- Proponent: Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation and Department of
Primary Industries
Approved: 2 February 2001
Available from: Department of Primary Industries.
Contact Bookshop on 1800 816 541 or email
Cost: Fees apply
Environmental code of practice for Australian Prawn Farmers
- Proponent: Australian Prawn Farmers Association
Approved: 21 September 2001
Available from: Australian Prawn Farmers Association
(07) 3255 1070
Cost: tba
see EPA operational policy Licensing wastewater releases from existing marine prawn farms in Queensland
Last updated: 12 February 2008
