On 15 November 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister Assisting on Deregulation announced details of reforms to the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. These reforms will better align the assessment effort with the risks posed and impose time limits for the regulator to complete assessments. The reforms also introduce a scheme for the continuation of approvals and registrations, otherwise known as the re-registration process, and a graduated compliance regime. The aim of the reforms is to cut unnecessary red tape for business; encourage the development of more modern and safer chemicals and improve access to chemical products for users; reduce the backlog of chemicals requiring review; enhance the APVMA’s business and operational functions by simplifying the assessment process so that is easier to understand and more cost effective to administer; and improve health and environmental protection for the broader community. A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared for this legislation and was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). As the RIS was not published as soon as practicable after reforms were first announced on 12 May 2011, the OBPR assessed the proposal as being non-compliant with the Australian Government’s best practice regulation requirements at the publication stage. The RIS has now been published, making the proposal fully compliant with the best practice regulation requirements and the OBPR has amended its assessment to reflect compliance with the best practice regulation requirements.
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