By Ben Bennett, President, Australian Dairy Farmers
As the Federal Government prepares to resume negotiations on the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EUFTA), the dairy industry sees a valuable opportunity to shape a partnership that supports growth, fairness, and resilience.
Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) welcomes the chance to work with Government and stakeholders to ensure the final agreement reflects the needs of our farmers, processors, and exporters.
We believe a balanced and forward-looking free trade agreement can strengthen our industry and deepen our ties with Europe.
To that end, there are several key areas we’d like to see any A-EUFTA deliver on:
Protecting the names Australians know
Australians have long enjoyed cheeses like parmesan and feta. These names are familiar, trusted, and part of our everyday lives.
Any agreement on Geographical Indications should retain the ability for local producers to use these terms.
While the EU sees these names as region-specific, Australians recognise them as generic descriptors.
Adopting the EU’s naming system would be a significant shift for our food labelling culture, which is built on transparency and consumer protection.
It’s important that this recognition doesn’t limit consumer choice or create barriers for new entrants in our market.
Creating a level playing field
Trade works best when it flows both ways.
Today, the EU sends over 70,000 tonnes of subsidised dairy products to Australia each year. In comparison, Australia exports just 1,665 tonnes to the EU.
These numbers tell a story of imbalance. As we move toward removing tariffs on imported cheese – the last safeguard for our domestic market – we ask that the EU also opens its doors.
Fair access means both sides benefit, and both industries thrive.
Opportunity for high-value products
Australia produces high-quality dairy ingredients, including high protein whey concentrate.
Currently, Canada and New Zealand have much greater access for exporting whey concentrate to the EU than we do.
Removing quotas and phasing out duty-free access over seven years would allow our producers to compete and contribute meaningfully to global supply chains.
Supporting shared values
Australian dairy farmers care deeply about animal welfare, sustainability, and responsible use of resources.
We welcome conversations about these values, however proposed conditions must be practical and based on evidence.
Any deal should support improvement, not create unnecessary hurdles.
A partnership worth building
In 2023, the dairy industry made its position clear: no deal is better than a poor deal. That view still holds.
We are committed to working constructively toward an agreement that delivers genuine opportunity. However, we also believe that protecting the long-term interests of Australian dairy must come first.
At a time when local milk supply is in long-term decline, input costs continue to climb and one in four dairy products in Australian shopper’s baskets is imported, we can’t afford not to.
A fair and reciprocal agreement will support our industry’s competitiveness in the face of these challenges. We look forward to continuing this journey with the Australian Government and our European counterparts. Together, we can shape an agreement that protects what matters, unlocks growth, and gives Australian dairy a fair go for the future.