Industry Liaison Committee
The Industry Liaison Committee (ILC) is the main consultative forum between the APVMA and peak chemical industry organisations representing registrants.
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Purpose
The APVMA (then NRA) established ILC in July 1995. The purpose of ILC is to:
- provide a forum for peak Agvet chemical industry bodies to give input into the APVMA’s corporate planning activities including consideration of current or emerging strategic issues
- provide a forum for formal consultation and discussion with peak chemical industry bodies on APVMA operating policies and programs
- enhance co-operation between industry and the APVMA.
Objectives
The principal objective of ILC is to promote active engagement of peak Agvet chemical industry stakeholders in the APVMA’s strategic planning, operational issues and reforms developed by the APVMA in its role as manager of the National Registration Scheme.
Detailed objectives of ILC are to:
- obtain the views of industry members on issues of a strategic nature
- provide industry input to APVMA corporate planning processes
- identify opportunities for regulatory reform within the existing framework
- provide a forum for the exchange of information including performance and expectations
- address specific operating policy issues and technical matters through working groups
- consider the impact of proposed macro-policy changes on APVMA operations and implications for industry.
Membership
ILC comprises an APVMA chair and the following industry bodies:
- ACCORD Australasia Ltd
- Aerosol Association of Australia Inc (AAA)
- Animal Health Alliance (Australia) Ltd (AHA)
- CropLife Australia
- Generic Agricultural Chemical Association (GACA)
- Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA)
- Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA)
- Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia Ltd (SPASA Australia)
- Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association (VMDA)
- Australian Paint Manufacturers´ Federation Inc (APMF)
- Pet Food Industry Association of Australia Inc (PFIAA)
- Australian Veterinarians in Industry (AVI)
- Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)
- Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL)
- Feed Ingredients & Additives Association of Australia (FIAAA)
Each member industry body generally may have one or two representatives on ILC.
The APVMA will maintain a record of all ILC member industry bodies and their nominated representatives. If the contact details of a representative change, it is the responsibility of the relevant industry body to notify the secretariat. If a member industry body wishes to change their representative on ILC, the body must notify the APVMA on the proposed change.
From time to time, the nominated representative of an ILC member may not be able to attend an ILC meeting, and the member may wish to nominate a different person to represent them at an ILC meeting. ILC members may also wish to invite a visitor to attend an ILC meeting to inform the meeting on a particular matter or to introduce the member to ILC as a future industry body representative.
In both these circumstances, the member must seek the APVMA's agreement, in advance of the ILC meeting, that a different representative, or visitor attends an ILC meeting.
Meetings
ILC will meet three times a year; each meeting has a specific purpose and strategic focus:
- April–ILC considers a detailed work plan on matters to be pursued through the ILC in the next financial year
- August–APVMA reports to industry on its performance during the previous financial year
- November–Industry contributes to the APVMA's corporate planning for the next financial year.
Before each ILC meeting the APVMA will invite a Registration Liaison Committee state or territory member to present to ILC on a current topic of interest.
The ILC meeting agenda will include an opportunity for ILC to have an in-depth discussion on a current or emerging strategic issue.
ILC will develop an annual work plan and regularly monitor performance against this work plan. ILC may establish specific working groups to consider specific operating policy issues or technical matters. ILC working groups can draw membership from the ILC membership and other relevant experts or stakeholders as agreed by ILC. Working groups will have a Terms of Reference and project plan as agreed by ILC. Working groups can be chaired by the APVMA or by an ILC industry body as agreed by ILC. Each working group chair will provide ILC with a written report updating the progress of the working group. ILC meetings will be scheduled to allow ILC members involved on working groups to meet at the conclusion of the ILC meeting discuss project progress and any issues arising.
The APVMA will distribute meeting papers 12–14 calendar days prior to a meeting, following the APVMA's 'two weekend' rule for consultative meetings. Late papers may be distributed 6–7 calendar days prior to a meeting and are intended for preliminary discussion only with further feedback out-of-session or at a later meeting.
Meeting Papers
Confidentiality of discussion papers
The APVMA believes that it is good committee practice for members to share ILC discussion papers within their industry organisations in order to obtain views as part of their meeting preparations.
Should a situation arise where a confidential paper is presented for discussion, the APVMA will identify the matter as such and advise whether the paper can be distributed beyond ILC.
Meeting outcomes and minutes
Generally, members may discuss meeting outcomes and share the meeting minutes within their industry organisation. If there are any discussions concerning a confidential matter, the chairperson will advise members accordingly. Confidential discussions will be recorded in a separate appendix to the minutes and members advised whether they may be distributed beyond ILC.
Disclosure of financial interests
The ILC is a committee established by the APVMA under Section 28 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 (the Agvet Act) to assist it in the performance of its functions. The Agvet Act requires that the members of committees established by the APVMA must disclose direct and indirect financial interests that are relevant to matters being considered by the committee. This requirement exists whether or not those financial interests pose or potentially pose a conflict of interest.
To assist ILC member representatives to satisfy their obligation to disclose relevant financial interests the APVMA has compiled the Guideline for APVMA Committees–Disclosure of Direct and Indirect Financial Interests. ILC member representatives must familiarise themselves with the guideline. Copies of the guideline and forms for the disclosure of relevant financial interests are available from the secretariat.
Australian government lobbyists register
From 1 July 2008, any lobbyist who wishes to contact a Government representative for the purpose of lobbying activities must be registered and must agree to comply with the requirements of the Lobbying Code of Conduct. Further information is available from the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website (external site).
The May 2008 Lobbying Code of Conduct provides a definition of lobbying that excludes activities such as communications in response to a call for submissions, or responses to requests by government representatives for information.
Because the APVMA has established the ILC to assist it in the performance of its functions by providing a forum for industry input and consultation, the APVMA believes that the input from industry associations provided through the ILC is provided in response to a request of the APVMA. For this reason, ILC member representatives (or the industry bodies they represent) need not necessarily be registered on the Lobbyists Register with respect to their participation on the ILC. However, registration may be required for any lobbying activities they may conduct that are within the scope of the Lobbying Code of Conduct.
Contact
Committee Secretariat
PO Box 6182
Kingston ACT 2604
Australia
Phone: 02 6210 4932
Fax: 02 6210 4787