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Regulation
The National Registration Scheme
The National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (National Registration Scheme) was established under Commonwealth and state legislation and ensures that these products are:- effective on target species
- safe when exposed to humans and non-target species either through direct exposure or residues in treated food stuffs
- environmental friendly, and
- labelled and packaged correctly.
DAFF manages the legislation under which the National Registration Scheme operates. This includes amending current legislation or introducing new Bills where Commonwealth, state and territory Governments have agreed there is a need. The former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, has overall policy responsibility for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals and presents these changes to Parliament.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), formerly known as the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals, sits within DAFF's portfolio and is the statutory body that administers the National Registration Scheme.
The Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
The APVMA evaluates, registers and regulates agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals up to the point of sale. The States are responsible for control of use.
Chemical companies wishing to register a product are required to provide extensive data supporting the safe and environmentally friendly status of the product.
As part of the assessment process, the APVMA receives input from other Commonwealth agencies, including:
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) within the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
- Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
- Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR)
- Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR)
- Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Evaluations for completely new products can be lengthy and time frames are prescribed in the legislation. Evaluations of variations to available products can be much shorter. The active constituent of a product must be registered before or with registration of the product.
Legislative Framework
The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 established the National Registration Scheme and amended the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1988 to transfer the powers and functions of the outgoing Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council to the then NRA, now known as the AVPMA.
The other major piece of legislation is the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 and the Schedule to this Act, which is the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code. The Code details the operational provisions for the registration of products and provides the AVPMA with its powers.
The National Registration legislation includes six other Acts, two dealing with registration activities and four relating to registration fees and charges. This legislation package repealed the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1988 and established a new framework for the operations of the AVPMA.
DAFF's Interrelationship with the APVMA
DAFF's primary role is the governance and oversight of the National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (NRS), administered by the APVMA.
DAFF has prime carriage of the overall direction of Commonwealth government policy for the management of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. It provides advice to the Minister on matters concerning the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals that are of interest and or concern to the Minister; and the strategic aspects of chemical management in Australia and its implications for the agricultural and veterinary chemical industries.
The agreement between the Commonwealth and the states and territories establishing the NRS requires DAFF to consult with all parties to the agreement on changes to agricultural and veterinary chemicals legislation.
DAFF also consults with the states and territories on any policy issues relating to the NRS. It consults with other Commonwealth government departments and agencies on policy issues as required.
In the international forum, DAFF participates in international meetings where policy issues are debated, including:
- OECD Working Group on Pesticides
- Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- Methyl Bromide and the Montreal Protocol
- Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS)
The APVMA's role is the registration and management of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in accordance with agricultural and veterinary chemicals legislation.
At the international level, the APVMA generally participates in meetings regarding the assessment and registration of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, in consultation with portfolio departments (mainly DAFF).