THE FEDERAL Government has today released its detailed response to the final report on future structure and governance arrangements for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

The Final Report on Future Structure and Governance Arrangements for the APVMA was commissioned by the government following an independent review by the law firm Clayton Utz.

Ken Matthews completed the review, also known as the Rapid Evaluation, which was released on April 17.

It made 33 recommendations aimed at improving governance, organisational capacity, regulatory performance, and cultural shortcomings of the APVMA.

A preliminary response was released by the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt which included the Federal Government’s view that the APVMA should remain an independent organisation and continue to be based at Armidale.

This was despite the Rapid Evaluation recommending that the authority should be redesignated as the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Regulator with the authority transferred back to Canberra.

The detailed response under new Agriculture Minister Julie Collins reiterated the initial views, as well as setting priorities and strategies for the APVMA.

It outlined the government’s reform agenda for the APVMA, including reforms already under way, additional policy analysis, and research to be undertaken by DAFF and the APVMA, in consultation with stakeholders.

“It is critical the APVMA acts as an effective regulator, and the reforms our Government is undertaking will make sure the public can be confident in Australia’s public health, food and environmental safety,” Ms Collins said.

“The APVMA has already made significant changes over the past year, and I know they will continue to improve.”

APVMA chair Catherine Ainsworth said the release of a detailed response means the APVMA can get on with the job as Australia’s independent regulator of agvet chemicals.

“The APVMA has already made significant progress to address the findings in the Rapid Evaluation and other reviews to improve its operations, workplace culture, governance, transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement,” Dr Ainsworth said.

“The APVMA is committed to being a world-class agvet chemicals regulator that is instrumental in protecting the health and safety of people, animals, and the environment.

“The APVMA will continue to collaborate with DAFF, state and territory governments, and other stakeholders to maintain a modern and effective regulatory system that upholds Australia’s public health, food safety, and environmental standards.”

Cost recovery, appropriation funding

In the detailed response, the government acknowledged recommendations from both reviews which found that the APVMA’s current cost recovery was “insufficient to resource its functions and responsibilities”.

It said further work was being undertaken to develop a new cost-recovery implementation statement for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

“Any proposed changes to fees, levies and charges will be accompanied by clear and transparent justifications,” the detailed response said.

The government “noted” but would not “support” calls to increase to appropriation funding, as recommended by the Rapid Evaluation, to support specific gaps in the organisation.

While welcoming the release of the detailed response, national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, CropLife, said it was concerned the response has failed to accept the calls to increase government contributions to the delivery of the public-good functions the APVMA delivers.

“The best way for the government to oversee the evolution of the APVMA into the modern regulator is to increase the appropriation to the APVMA to support the functions that allow it to maintain the trust of the Australian community,” CropLife chief executive officer Matthew Cossey said.

“This would align to the Australian Government’s Charging Framework and is consistent with Government funding of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”

Stakeholder engagement

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel also welcomed the detailed response and said GrainGrowers would continue to work with government and the APVMA to ensure the regulatory system met the needs of all stakeholders.

“Given the need for innovation in our farming systems to maintain profitability, it is vital that our regulatory system is predictable and efficient, to allow new products to be brought to market,” Ms Gawel said.

“We look forward to continuing to work across government to ensure the regulatory system delivers certainty for chemical users and builds public confidence in the broader issues of chemical and food safety.”

Source: Federal Government, APVMA, GrainGrowers, CropLife