While most of the reforms in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill introduced today are welcomed, the plant science industry is disappointed the government is attempting to impose more unnecessary costs onto Australian farmers with its ill-considered and poorly planned governance board for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The hysteria surrounding the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monograph on glyphosate is unfounded. IARC only plays the limited role of advising regulatory bodies on potential hazards, allowing the relevant regulatory agencies to assess if there are any associated risks and manage them appropriately.