01.Product Safety and Integrity Commission - CHOICE Submission July 2009
The national regulatory framework for agricultural and veterinary chemicals is under review. We're currently writing a submission to the Product Safety and Integrity Committee (PSIC). You can now read a little about the review at the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry website here.
CHOICE wants to see a thorough shakeup that includes a complete restructure of the regulator the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. CHOICE wants to see it strengthened to become an independent statutory body, free from the influence of the chemicals industry.
In an earlier submission for the PSIC review, and in discussions with the review's consultants, these are the major things that we’re calling for:
- A new regulator with pre and post registration of chemicals administered within the same agency.
- Apply the precautionary principle. If banned in other major developed countries, chemicals should not be allowed in Australia.
- ‘No data, no market’ should apply to registrations, with firm cut-offs and stipulations on the sourcing and types of acceptable supporting data.
- Better labelling of chemicals. Labels should be approved for several years at a time only, and require updates. They should be clear, short and appropriate to users.
- Sunset registrations. Chemicals to receive a time-limited registration, of 10 years, after which their suitability is reviewed against modern science.
- Substitution of softer chemicals. Where new, effective, softer chemicals exist, then old chemicals should be withdrawn and replaced with these softer options.
- Remove the regulator’s funding collection role. Levies and oversight of global budget to be administered by the Department of Finance. Funding should be indexed to the rate of inflation.
Read CHOICE's submission here.