Grain Producers Australia

GPA's 12 February 2011 submission in response to the Policy Discussion Paper Better Regulation of Agricultural and  Veterinary Chemicals. In relation to the regulatory framework for the registration processes for agricultural and veterinary chemicals, GPA is anxious to ensure that chemical risk assessments are based on good science relevant to Australian conditions and that there is a structured and ongoing consultation with producers in the registration and review when considering economic impacts on farm viability.

The Discussion Paper does not generally address the underlying concerns or requirements producers have in relation to the outputs of the regulatory framework being discussed. To this end this submission aims to comment on the sections of the proposal in general terms to ensure the broad issues that face the production sector are registered in the review process.

Specifically, GPA notes that the regulatory framework must deliver a platform that can:

• Ensure ongoing access to safe chemistry
• Ensure ongoing access to chemistry that works
• Ensure there are no unreasonable regulatory impediments to the introduction of new chemistry and the retention of existing chemistry
• Ensure that there are no unreasonable financial impediments to the introduction of new chemistry and the retention of existing chemistry
• Ensure that emergency and minor use permit processes are not impeded by unreasonable regulatory burdens.
• Ensure that risk and impact assessments consider production issues
• Ensure that registrations consider users of chemicals formally.

To read the full GPA submission, click on the link below.

 GPA Submission to Better Regulation of AgVet Chemicals Policy Discussion Paper (123 Kb)