Agency overview and resources
Section 1: Agency overview and resources
1.1 Strategic direction
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is established under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 (Administration Act). The Authority’s principal responsibilities are described in the Administration Act and the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994.
The APVMA is the independent Australian Government statutory authority responsible for registering pesticides and veterinary medicines and regulating them up to and including retail sale.
The APVMA is responsible for administering and managing the National Registration Scheme (NRS). The scheme sets out the regulatory framework for the management of pesticides and veterinary medicines in Australia. The APVMA carries out its work in partnership with state and territory governments and with the active involvement of other Australian Government agencies including the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Office of Chemical Safety within the Department of Health and Ageing.
The APVMA uses robust risk assessment methods to scientifically evaluate new and existing pesticides and veterinary medicines used in Australia to assure the protection of the health and safety of people, animals, the environment and trade.
The APVMA devotes considerable attention to operating a system for regulating pesticides and veterinary medicines that is efficient, effective, open and transparent and gives opportunity for public input.
In fulfilling its legislated obligations to protect public health, animals, the environment and trade, the APVMA seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on business wherever practicable. A focus of the 2009–10 financial year is therefore to consolidate on-going reform activities including implementation of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reform agenda and recommendations from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) audit report.
The APVMA is undertaking a review of its cost recovery arrangements, including a draft fee structure for the next five years. The APVMA is reviewing consultation feedback and preparing a final Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) for the Minister’s consideration.
The APVMA’s capacity to deliver its outcome is dependant on securing sufficient funds to respond to changing stakeholder expectations and to maintain its reputation as an international best practice regulator.
1.2 Agency resource statement
Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all origins. The table summarises how resources will be applied by outcome and by administered and departmental classification.
1.3 Budget measures
The APVMA is not affected by any 2009–10 budget measures.
1.4 Transition from outcomes and outputs to outcomes and programs
From the 2009–10 Budget, all General Government Sector (GGS) entities will be reporting on a program basis. The table below outlines the transition from the 2008–09 Budget year (as at Additional Estimates) which was presented in administered items, outputs and output groups to the program reporting framework used for the 2009–10 Budget. The table also captures revisions made to GGS outcome statements under the Operation Sunlight Outcome Statements Review.
Figure 1: Transition table
15 Sep 2009