Better Regulation of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals

The Australian Government is committed to reforms to the regulation of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals that improve the effectiveness of the current regulatory arrangements, and provide greater certainty to the community that chemicals approved for use in Australia are safe.

To implement this better regulation agenda for agvet chemicals, the Australian Government formed a Better Regulation Ministerial Partnership between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister Assisting on Deregulation.

This partnership guided development of reforms to improve the systems that protect human health and the environment; reduce the regulatory burdens on industry and businesses; and enhance the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA’s) business and operational functions.

Legislation passed by the lower house of Parliament

The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 was passed by the House of Representatives on 15 May 2013. The amended Bill will now be considered by the Senate and, if passed, will be presented to the Governor-General for the Royal Assent. In his summing up of the debate, the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Sid Sidebottom MP, thanked all those stakeholders who have contributed to development of this legislation.

The Bill passed by the House incorporated several amendments made since its introduction into the parliament in November 2012. One notable amendment changes the commencement date for the reforms from 1 July 2013 to 1 July 2014. This change will give the APVMA more time to explain the detailed implications of the reforms to stakeholders. The revised commencement date will also give the APVMA and agvet chemicals industry more time to adjust to new ways of doing business.

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2012

Regulations are currently being developed

Amendments to the regulations associated with the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 are currently being finalised by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Details of these proposed changes were available for comment until 21 December 2012 and stakeholders’ comments have been taken into account where possible.

• Details of proposed regulations PDF [263 KB]
• Details of proposed regulations Word [225 KB]