This presentation will outline the role of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which is the Australian Government regulator of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemical products. For an agvet chemical product to legally be manufactured, imported, supplied, sold or used in Australia, it must be registered by the APVMA, unless exempt by the Agvet Code. The APVMA also administers a permits scheme that allows for the legal use of chemicals in certain ways that are contrary to the label instructions, or in certain circumstances allows for the limited use of an unregistered chemical product.
The APVMA registration process involves scientifically evaluating the safety and efficacy of a product in order to protect Australia's trade and the health and safety of people, animals and the environment. A particular focus of this presentation will be on the assessment of agvet chemical residues including how the APVMA sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agvet chemicals in agricultural produce entering the food chain.