8 March 2019
CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation representing the plant science sector, is pleased to see a further overall improvement in the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA) timeframe performance as shown in the December 2018 quarter performance statistics released today.
Mr Matthew Cossey, Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, said, “It is pleasing to see the overall performance of the APVMA continuing to improve. The performance has now returned to its 2014-15 levels with 85 per cent of AgVet chemical applications being completed on time.
“While pleased with overall performance, it is concerning that year to date, only 50 per cent of major assessment applications were completed within timeframe by the APVMA. The APVMA must now focus on improving timeframe performance for these critical new and innovative product applications. These innovations are core to boosting Australian farming productivity and are essential for Australian farmers to remain competitive internationally.
“Having recovered from its record performance lows of the June 2017 quarter when the APVMA relocation was announced, the focus must now be on ensuring the next stage of relocation to Armidale does not result in another drop in performance.
“Two AgVet Bills are currently before Parliament – one of them since 25 October 2017. In their original forms the Bills were non-controversial, supported by industry and should have been passed by now. The Bills include small, targeted, conservative measures to improve APVMA efficiency which are urgently needed.”
Mr Cossey concluded, “CropLife and our members will seek to work constructively to assist and support the Regulator, the Department and government to implement further efficiency measures that maintain the integrity and community confidence in the system and deliver better outcomes for Australian agriculture.”