APVMA Consultative Forum

Membership

• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (Chair)
• Accord Australasia
• Agsafe
• Animal Medicines Australia
• Australian Veterinary Association
• CropLife Australia
• Farmsafe Australia Inc
• National Farmers’ Federation
• Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia
• Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia
• The Feed Ingredients and Additives Association of Australia
• Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association Ltd
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Observer)

Terms of Reference

• APVMA Consultative Forum – Terms of Reference

Meeting summaries

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) held the inaugural APVMA Consultative Forum on 18 August 2020.

The forum has representatives from 11 key organisations 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.

Member comments

Members flagged concerns with a 1 July 2025 implementation date for the CRIS review placing additional pressures on industry. The APVMA requested feedback from members regarding what alternatives could be considered.

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.

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 asked for clarification on the approach for Fipronil and the APVMA advised that only the consultation will be separated by use type, with the final regulatory decision for Fipronil combining both agricultural and veterinary.

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.

8 August 2023

• The Forum welcomed Dr Melissa McEwen (Acting CEO).
• The Forum endorsed adding the Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia to the membership.
• The APVMA provided an update on the cost recovery impact statement (CRIS) consultation plan for the 2025–27 CRIS.
• The APVMA provided an overview of the Adverse Experience Reporting Program (AERP) Project and an update on Manufacturing Quality and Licensing (MQL).

16 March 2023

• The Forum welcomed Nicola Hinder (interim CEO) and Wayne Terpstra (interim Deputy CEO).
• The APVMA provided an update on the performance of the agency.
• The Forum discussed the Terms of Reference (ToRs) and it was agreed no amendments are required.
• The APVMA provided an overview of the plan to update Minor Use Guidelines.
• The APVMA gave an overview of the 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey results and progress against the action plan.

3 August 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 provided an update on the Corporate Plan, with a focus on strategic objectives.
• The APVMA gave a presentation 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 gave an overview of the 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey results.
• Members noted an interest in how the APVMA assesses and regulates low-risk products.

24 February 2022

• Performance update – The Forum noted the update on the APVMA performance statistics for the December quarter 2021.
• Improvements Bill – 7 measures have been implemented and implementation of the remaining measure remains on track.
• 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey – The 2022 Client and Stakeholder Survey is being developed and will be deployed in late March 2022.
• Corporate Plan – Planning for the 2022–23 Corporate Plan is underway.

20 August 2021

• Performance update – The Forum noted the update on the APVMA performance statistics for the June quarter 2021.
• First Principles Review – the Chair noted the final report was published in June 2021.
• Chemical Review – The Forum noted the update on the Chemical Review work program.
• CRIS – The Forum noted the progress on the CRIS.
• Stakeholder Engagement Framework – The Forum noted the APVMA's progress against the targets outlined in the APVMA Stakeholder Engagement Activities 2020–21. The Chair noted the planned stakeholder engagement activities for the 2021–22 period.

9 February 2021

• First Principles Review – the Chair noted the Department of Agriculture Water and Environment has released the draft report for consultation.
• Performance update – The Forum noted the update on the APVMA performance statistics for the December quarter 2020.
• Stakeholder Engagement Framework – The Forum noted the APVMA's progress against the targets outlined in the APVMA Stakeholder Engagement Activities 2020–21.

18 August 2020

• Stakeholder Engagement Framework – The forum endorsed the Stakeholder Engagement Framework 2020–23, noting the dynamic nature of the document will allow for flexibility in the content, as required. The forum noted the Stakeholder Engagement Activities 2020–21.
• Future discussion topics for the Consultative Forum were discussed and endorsed by members.
• First Principles Review – The forum noted the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water’s update.
• Applications Transformation Project – The forum noted the Applications Transformation Project update.
• COVID-19 update – The forum noted the Chair’s oral update on COVID-19.