Membership
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (Chair)
- Aerial Application Association of Australia
- Australian Ground Sprayers
- Australian Meat Industry Council
- AusVeg
- Canegrowers
- Cattle Council of Australia
- Cotton Australia
- Crop Consultants Australia
- Grain Producers Australia
- Grain Trade Australia
- Greenlife Industry Australia
- GrowCom
- Horticultural Innovation Australia
- Invetus
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Sheep Producers Australia
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.
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.