More red tape threatens farm viability

The federal government is planning to introduce a new and potentially devastating regulatory regime for agricultural and veterinary chemicals, according to the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.

This week, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to agricultural and veterinary chemicals legislation that, among other things, will make it mandatory for chemical companies to re-register existing products as well as having new products tested and registered and the existing rigorous process for chemical review which actually targets higher-risk chemicals

“We have been told that this amendment is supposed to improve efficiency – but it will have exactly the opposite effect. These unnecessary and hugely costly requirements will inevitably result in loss of registered chemicals available to farmers to produce food and fibre,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said today.

“The government consistently told us that this package of reforms, most of which we agree with, would not result in significant costs. That is clearly not the case. Industry told them that this approach would cause problems. They clearly have not listened.

“We need a system of regulation that ensures new products are thoroughly tested, approved and allowed onto the Australian market quickly and efficiently. Existing products have already been through extensive risk-based testing processes that ensure chemicals are safe and effective for human and environmental health. Forcing companies to put these products back through the hoops is a costly and unnecessary regulatory burden.”

“Australia is a very small market on a global scale. Forcing companies to re-register existing approved products will add an additional cost burden that may well result in them deciding not to bother and withdrawing approved products. And that will leave our farmers behind the game, unable to be competitive in either domestic or export markets.”

“It is about time that governments started walking the talk we consistently hear about opportunities for agriculture. Farmers simply cannot continue to carry the cost of unchecked growth in red and green tape,” she said.

The Senate has yet to approve the amendment.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis