Better regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals
The Australian Government has identified the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals as an important area of reform. In July 2010 a first tranche of Australian Government Better Regulation Reforms took effect. A number of those reforms — such as labelling reforms — are still being implemented. A second tranche of reforms is now being progressed. On 15 November 2011, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) released an exposure draft of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 together with an explanatory guide (external site) that details the changes proposed under the new legislation.
APVMA's role in reforms
Contributing to policy and legislative reform
The APVMA is contributing to the reform process by providing operational insight into the effect of policy and legislative changes on the National Registration Scheme (NRS). The APVMA is working closely with DAFF to inform the drafting process for a suite of new agvet legislation and to provide operational examples that inform the consultative process with industry and stakeholders. More information about this consultative process and the submissions to the exposure draft can be found on the DAFF website.
Working in partnership to deliver an efficient and effective regulatory system
The APVMA will work in partnership with other Australian Government departments, and its state and territory partners to deliver reform to the NRS and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agvet chemical regulation.
Increasing transparency by publishing a comprehensive Risk Compendium
One measure proposed under the Better Regulation reforms is the publication of the comprehensive risk framework – known as the Risk Compendium. The Risk Compendium (compendium) describes the policies and processes used by the APVMA to assess and manage risk across its regulatory activities.
The objective of the compendium is to make chemical assessment and review more predictable, and to better describe how APVMA assessment effort is aligned with risk.
The compendium will be built and released over time as the APVMA develops its systems and processes in consultation with stakeholders. In its totality, the compendium is designed to aid understanding of APVMA's regulatory requirements and acts as a transparency measure, informing stakeholders more broadly and adding to public confidence.
Risk Compendium
It comprises two volumes:
- Volume 1 comprises a series of framework documents describing the principles that will guide the APVMA in the conduct of its regulatory activities.
- Volume 2 will contain more detailed process documents describing how the APVMA carries out its regulatory functions.
More information
- Find out more about the draft legislation released for consultation
- See the joint media release from Minister Ludwig and Minister Sherry (external site)
- See some frequently asked questions about the exposure draft and how to provide comment
- Information about the first tranche of Better Regulation Partnership reforms enacted on 15 July 2010
Contact
Better Regulation Taskforce
For enquiries about the reforms to the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
Phone:
+61 2 6210 4877
Fax: +61 2 6210 4813
Email: betterregulation@apvma.gov.au