APVMA Agvet Users Forum

Membership

• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (Chair)
• Aerial Application Association of Australia
• Australian Ground Sprayers
• Australian Meat Industry Council
• AusVeg
• Canegrowers
• Cattle Australia
• Cotton Australia
• Crop Consultants Australia
• Grain Producers Australia
• Grain Trade Australia
• Greenlife Industry Australia
• Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers
• Horticultural Innovation Australia
• Invetus
• Meat and Livestock Australia
• Sheep Producers Australia

Terms of Reference

• APVMA Agvet Users Forum – Terms of Reference

Meeting summaries

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) held the inaugural APVMA Agvet Users Forum on 24 May 2021.

The forum has representatives from key user and grower groups from the agricultural and veterinary chemicals (agvet) sector.

The forum is intended to facilitate engagement between the APVMA and stakeholders in relation to the National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals and enable transparent communication and information sharing on strategic issues to support effective agvet chemical regulation.

7 August 2024

Opening comments – Scott Hansen, APVMA CEO

Chair Scott Hansen introduced himself to attendees as the newly appointed APVMA CEO, and advised members that the APVMA had recently appointed Dr Catherine Ainsworth as board chairman.

The Chair opened the meeting by noting that his focus as CEO will be on ensuring that the APVMA delivers on its legislative responsibilities and the ministerial statement of expectations.

The Chair noted that the current APVMA priority projects included completing the chemical reviews subject to the ministerial direction; the cost recovery project; and implementing the government’s response to the independent reviews.

CRIS project – APVMA update

As previously announced, the APVMA is currently reviewing the Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) and will open for consultation in September 2024. The CRIS establishes the rates at which the agency applies fees and levies to regulated industries. The APVMA expects that revisions to the CRIS will take effect from 1 July 2025 following ministerial endorsement.

The APVMA will consult with interested parties on 3 potential financial models. The consultation material will include information about what each of those models provides in terms of agency position and outcomes that will deliver according to the various levels and cost settings within those 3 models.

At the time of the 2019 fee increase there was some question from industry on what a 100% fee cost recovery model might look like. Our consultation material will provide this information, but we are not proposing it as an option as it is not practically implementable, but we will have some baseline information.

The consultation process is expected to include:

• a webinar
• independently facilitated workshops and working groups to be held across weeks 2 and 3 of consultation
• consultation material to be made available on the APVMA website.

Regulatory reform

The government provided their initial response to the rapid evaluation of the APVMA was in April 2024. The APVMA anticipates that the subsequent detailed response to the rapid review will be published by the end of the year. The APVMA will continue to work closely with DAFF to implement the government’s reform agenda.

The APVMA continues to work closely with DAFF to implement the government’s reform agenda. The APVMA considers that the detailed response provides an invaluable basis and opportunity to continue to strengthen our operations and progress our strategic priorities, to deliver on our purpose and vision.

Member comments

Members enquired whether the APVMA board would be directly involved with the regulatory reform process. The APVMA confirmed that the board would be involved, noting that the board members had considerable collective experience to draw upon.

Members asked what scale of change could be expected from the regulatory reform process. The APVMA noted that this is likely to be decided on the basis of the government’s detailed response to the rapid review.

Chemical review

The APVMA has 9 currently ongoing chemical reconsiderations, 7 of which are subject to the ministerial directive. The APVMA intends to look into one new chemical and the spray drift reviews within the next 12 months.

The following seven chemicals are subject to the ministerial directive:

Public consultation for the Fipronil proposed regulatory decision will be split into 2 parts (agricultural versus veterinary uses) due to the scale of this review. These consultations will be staged one month apart.

The following 2 chemical reviews are not subject to the ministerial directive:

Member comments

Members enquired whether the reconsideration of chemical registrations could be revised to give weight to the impacts that decisions may have on industry profitability. The APVMA replied that safety, efficacy, and trade will continue to be the criteria that the APVMA considers when making regulatory decisions.

Members enquired whether additional resourcing had been provided for the priority chemical reviews, noting that redeploying staff to these projects can have negative impacts on permit and registration assessment timeframes. The APVMA replied that establishing an internal pipeline of talent is a priority in addressing resourcing issues, the APVMA further noted that the agency is considering ways to attract suitable applicants in order to meet resourcing shortfalls.

Members raised concerns relating to the proposed regulatory decision for paraquat and diquat. The APVMA clarified what types of data the agency had requested from industry and how statistical modelling was applied in order to identify species of concern. The APVMA further noted that this proposed decision has been put forward on the basis of available contemporary evidence, and that interested parties may submit data for consideration until the public consultation period closes on 29 October.

Stakeholder engagement

The APVMA thanks everyone who participated in the 2024 stakeholder survey. The information this survey provides is critical to ensuring that the APVMA provides stakeholders the information they need, when they need it, in a format that is accessible.

The APVMA had a record number of responses to the survey.  Going forward, the APVMA expects to conduct the survey biannually.

The updated APVMA stakeholder engagement framework is currently undergoing internal approvals. This document sets the framework the APVMA will use for accurate, effective, and transparent engagement with our regulatory partners, industry and the public.

7 September 2023

• The Forum welcomed Dr Melissa McEwen (acting CEO) who provided an update on the APVMA.
• The APVMA provided an overview of spray drift and emerging technologies.
• The APVMA provided an update on residues related international engagement.
• The APVMA provided an update on the APVMA’s chemical review work.
• The APVMA provided a summary of results from the 2023 Stakeholder and Client Survey.

4 May 2023

• The APVMA provided an overview of the plan to update minor use guidelines.
• The Forum discussed access to biological pesticides via the Australian market, including how the APVMA assesses and regulates biological products.
• The APVMA gave an overview of the 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey results and progress against the action plan.
• The Forum discussed the Terms of Reference (ToRs) and the approach to reviewing later in 2023.

10 November 2022

• The APVMA gave a presentation about the APVMA’s role in packaging and labelling. Discussion about specific issues related to labels on containers, use of QR codes, and how different closure systems can impact users’ exposure to product when mixing and loading.
• The Forum discussed the issues and challenges arising in fungicidal product availability and resistance management due to continued wet weather.
• Members noted an interest in how the APVMA assesses and regulates biological products. The Chair confirmed this would be discussed at the next meeting.

14 July 2022

• The Forum welcomed Dr Carrie Hillyard, Chair of the APVMA Board, who spoke about the APVMA Board’s expertise and priorities for the APVMA.
• The APVMA gave a presentation on the work being done with the OECD’s Expert Group on Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data and members discussed labels and eLabels.
• The APVMA gave an overview of the 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey results.
• Members noted an interest in how the APVMA assesses and regulates low-risk biological products. The Forum agreed this should be discussed at a future meeting.

16 March 2022

• The APVMA gave an overview of the work being done with the OECD’s Expert Group on Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data and members discussed labels and eLabels.
• The APVMA invited members to identify any areas of potential operational reform they are interested in exploring at future meetings.
• Members noted an interest in the assessment of biologicals.
• Data protection provisions for emergency and minor use permits were discussed.
• The 2022 APVMA Client and Stakeholder Survey will open in the next 2 weeks and members were encouraged to respond to this survey.
• Members discussed the establishment of the APVMA Board following the passage of the APVMA Board and Improvements Act in December 2021.

17 September 2021

• Terms of Reference – The attendees noted the draft Terms of Reference and recommended changes and to extend the membership of the forum.
• Update on Codex MRLs – The criteria on how maximum residue limits are determined was discussed.
• Emergency permits – Discussion about the process for emergency permits.
• Spray drift permits – The APVMA provided an update on the Spray Drift Policy and permit.
• Future risk assessment framework for emerging application technologies – The Forum was updated on the use of optical sprayer technology and parallel use in automation, as well as other emerging application technologies.

24 May 2021

• Initial meeting to explore interest in establishing a Forum.
• Terms of Reference – The attendees noted the draft Terms of Reference and recommended changes and to extend the membership of the forum.
• Forward work plan – The attendees noted future topics of discussion for consideration by the Chair could include smart labelling, Codex Alimentarius and MRLs, improving access, and regulatory assessment of novel application technologies.