Page 661 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 2018
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Environment Protection Act 1997 (the Act) in the ACT. The Act is administered by the Environment Protection Authority in Access Canberra. The mechanism to implement the harmonisation initiatives will be through the conditions that apply to the Environment Authorisations for pesticide operators in the ACT. It is anticipated that these national reforms will be finalised in 2018-19.
(2) Minimum record keeping requirements for Agvet chemical users were agreed by the Agricultural Ministers Forum in June 2017, have been implemented in Victoria and NSW, but are yet to be implemented elsewhere. In the ACT these requirements will be implemented through amendments to pesticide operators Environmental Authorisations.
A discussion paper on minimum training and licensing requirements for Agvet chemicals closed for public consultation on 22 December 2017 and a final proposal will be presented for jurisdictional endorsement early in 2018.
A proposal for harmonised off-label Agvet chemical use is currently out for public consultation and will be ready for endorsement by mid-2018.
Proposals for harmonising record keeping requirements for the use of veterinary chemicals in food-producing species and an approach to off-label use of Agvet chemicals will be ready for endorsement by mid-2018 and December 2018, respectively.
Agvet Chemicals Task Group is also considering a proposal to improve national coordination of produce monitoring given the potential synergies with the proposal for a harmonised off-label use to be delivered by the end of 2018.
(3) No. However, in the absence of specific legislation and limited agricultural activity in the ACT, the ACT position remains that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the appropriate authority to issue any off-label permits in the ACT and most other provisions can be addressed through Environmental Authorisations issued under the Environment Protection Act 1997. The supporting Regulations also contain offence provisions for failure to use Agvet chemicals in accordance with the APVMA approved use.
(4) There have been no impacts in the ACT due to relatively small agricultural sector and current licensing of pesticide operators in the ACT by the EPA.
(5) Like non-government parties, ACT Government agencies are required to hold an Environmental Authorisation for the commercial use of Agvet chemicals in the ACT. This will continue as the new Agvet provisions are rolled out. Authorisations are also subject to review by the EPA in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
(6) The APVMA is responsible for assessing and registering chemicals for use in Australia and consider risks to human health and the environment. To address these risks the APVMA approves directions on the quantity and use of Agvet chemicals in the environment on the label instructions for the products. Agencies which use Agvet chemicals in the ACT are authorised under the Environment Protection Act 1997 by the EPA which requires them to have the appropriate competencies and comply with the conditions of use approved by the AVPMA on the label for the product.
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