SENATOR THE HON MURRAY WATT

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992

Ministerial direction to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

I, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, consistent with section 10 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 (Administration Act) am satisfied it is necessary, in order to ensure that in performing its functions or exercising its powers, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) complies with policies referred to in section 9A of the Administration Act, to direct the APVMA that it:

• recognise that the onus rests on those entities seeking to bring products to the Australian market to establish, and maintain, compliance with the statutory criteria of safety, efficacy, trade and labelling.
• undertake all necessary actions to facilitate the determination of chemical reconsiderations that have been ongoing for over 17 years (Attachment A), having regard to the full suite of regulatory powers available including compelling the provision of data and the consequences of non-compliance.
• maintain, and update at least annually, a prioritised work program for the assessment of all chemical reconsiderations (nominated, proposed, or active). Where new priorities arise, the APVMA will publish the change to the chemical reconsideration work plan.
• where a chemical reconsideration is discontinued as the result of all products being withdrawn from registration by the registration holders, the APVMA must publish a summary of findings to date, identifying those matters where APVMA’s satisfaction remained in question.

Dated:   13    /  7     / 2023

MURRAY WATT

MURRAY WATT

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Attachment A