Australia's Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) has welcomed the passage through Parliament of legislation to remove duplicative and inefficient provisions to reregister agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
"Re-approval and re-registration provisions for agricultural and veterinary chemical products introduced by the previous government imposed an expensive and duplicative scheme on agricultural chemicals," said PACIA CEO, Ms Samantha Read.
"These chemical products are already subject to a world-class scheme administered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. It is already capable of identifying and addressing any new risks from agricultural chemicals that may present themselves.
"Re-approval and re-registration merely added to an unbalanced regulatory environment that acted as a significant disincentive to registrants seeking to introduce newer, safer and softer chemicals that can assist Australian farmers take advantage of emerging markets in South and East Asia.
"However, the job is not done, as additional reform across all areas of chemical regulation in Australia remains necessary. Numerous reviews by various bodies (including the Productivity Commission in 2008) have highlighted that chemical regulation in Australia suffers under the weight of excessive, inconsistent and burdensome rules," said Ms Read.
"All Australian Governments need to work together to deliver a coherent system for chemicals regulation in Australia. This includes ensuring that we have a system that encourages companies to invest in new chemistries and products to help drive improvements in Australian productivity.
"PACIA stands ready to assist the Government deliver a truly, modern, effective and efficient regulatory system for chemicals in Australia," said Ms Read.
Download the ‘PACIA Strategic Industry Roadmap’
Media contact: Claire Selby, [email protected], 0448 028 876.
Released 17 July 2014
About PACIA
PACIA is the pre-eminent national body representing Australia¹s $40bn chemistry industry, whose businesses directly employ 60,000 people and contribute approximately 11.5% of total Australian manufacturing production. PACIA members comprise a broad range of companies positioned across the entire value chain. Members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies and innovative medium-sized enterprises, to leading national and multinational enterprises.
