Ramsey Calls for Immediate Review of APVMA

Ramsey Calls for Immediate Review of APVMA

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has spoken in Parliament calling for the Government to get on with the promised review of the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) despite the APVMA announcement today to increase production quotas at mouse bait mixing sites, authorise new sites and renew existing emergency permit past 30 September.

“It took far too long for the APVMA to approve the original applications and following the company reaching its nominated tonnage limits for individual sites, there has again been delays in the approval to continue the emergency supply,” Mr Ramsey said.

“I had extensive conversations with 4Farmers, the APVMA and the Minister’s office over the last few weeks urging the extension of permits, but there has been a lack of urgency.

Mr Ramsey said that under current operating regulations the APVMA is not able to take industry concerns and the likely economic or social impacts of their decisions into account.

“This deficiency must be addressed urgently by the review promised by the Government before the last election,” he said.

“The APVMA is looking at a wide range of chemical uses on an ongoing basis. A likely decision which could well see the loss of Diuron as a useful chemical is imminent and the impact on farming are critical issues.

“The APVMA simply must be forced to take into account the need for farmers to be able to get on with the job of farming.

“I am pleased the mouse poison issue has been resolved, but in many cases the damage is already done.”

In South Australia new sites authorised for production of 30 tonne each have been announced in Balaklava, Lock, Wirrulla and Wudinna.

Existing sites currently authorised for production under existing allocations already granted are in Crystal Brook and Kadina.

And increased quotas for existing sites of 30 tonne each provided for Cowell.

Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith (08) 8633 1744

September 23, 2011