Sustainability-related Regulations Database

< back

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994

Description: A short description of the legislation.

This legislation makes provision for the evaluation, registration and control of agricultural and veterinary chemical products. The Act aims to ensure chemicals used are safe when exposed to humans and non-target species either through direct exposure or residues in treated food stuffs, are not a risk to the environment, are effective on target species, and labeled and packaged correctly.

Application to Australian agriculture: Where the legislation is applicable.

The use of chemicals in Australian agriculture is regulated by the Act to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, the safety of animals and minimising risks to the environment.

Compliance information: Often the evidence of compliance against a piece of legislation is that there is not a breach of the Act. Where appropriate, the developers of this database have listed evidence which could be used to show compliance if a breach was to be found. Many Best Management Practice (BMP) schemes and other certifications in Australian agriculture include this evidence for accreditation.

The following documentation/information is required to provide evidence of compliance.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the Australian Government regulator of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemical products, established in 1993 to centralise the registration of all agvet chemical products into the Australian marketplace.The APVMA also monitors and enforces compliance with the Agvet Code and relevant legislation. More information on the APVMA can be found online - https://www.apvma.gov.au/

Additional information: The entity this legislation originates from.

The National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (National Registration Scheme) was established under Commonwealth and state and territory legislation and ensures that these products are: safe when exposed to humans and non-target species either through direct exposure or residues in treated food stuffs, not a risk to the environment, effective on target species, and labeled and packaged correctly. More information on the National Registration Scheme can be found online - https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/ag-vet-chemicals/regulation. →

Source documents: Links to the legislation documents.