It is my honour and privilege to serve the APVMA as CEO for the next 5 years. I look forward to working closely with the Board and its new Chair, Dr Catherine Ainsworth, our colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and the incredible team in APVMA to ensure we remain a global leader in agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals regulation for the benefit of Australia. I am just over one month into the role and grateful for the strong foundation built by the APVMA team and my predecessor, Dr Melissa McEwen, over the last 12 months.

I have dealt with the APVMA extensively in my working life. As Director-General of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), I worked with the APVMA from the perspective of a co-regulator under the National Registration Scheme. Before my time at DPI, I spent 10 years at Meat & Livestock Australia across a range of roles where I frequently dealt with the APVMA.

I have had the chance to meet staff from all areas across the APVMA, and I am impressed by their dedication to delivering for the Australian community. The sheer volume and quality of work that the APVMA delivers is a testament to their dedication, in just 2022–23 financial year our staff:

  • processed 2,650 applications (with 93.9% processed within agreed timeframes)
  • issued more than 1,300 consents for imports and exports
  • processed over 7,000 adverse experience reports
  • completed 108 investigations and issued 109 education letters.

These statistics can’t possibly capture all of the work that our people do, and I commend the way they have dealt with the challenges that come their way. They have maintained a laser-like focus on regulating agvet chemicals to protect the health and safety of people, animals, the environment and Australia’s trade, often under difficult circumstances.

I am looking forward to consulting with key stakeholders for the review of the APVMA’s cost recovery arrangements in the coming weeks. It is important that we get this right to ensure that the APVMA is resourced effectively and continues to be a global leader in agvet regulation.

The APVMA will continue to engage with regulated industries and the wider Australian community on the issues that matter to you. We have a number of public consultations that are currently open and I encourage submissions to help inform our decisions.

I also welcome your ideas, feedback, and insights as I continue to learn about our opportunities and challenges in regulating agvet chemical products.

Yours sincerely
Scott Hansen
APVMA Chief Executive Officer

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