The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017 come into effect this weekend, on 23 July, 2017.

Agriculture Victoria acting principal policy officer Michael Laity, said the regulations had been updated to ensure they remained the most effective means of regulating agricultural and veterinary chemical use in Victoria. 

Victorian farm chemical users should note the regulations changes include simpler and more flexible record keeping requirements for farm chemical users, amended product labelling and advice notes requirements for veterinary practitioners and stockfeed manufacturers, and clearer notification responsibilities for aircraft or mister spraying near sensitive services.

The new regulations also cover additional aerial spraying equipment options for pilots, recognition of permits issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to use ‘restricted use’ chemicals not in accordance with the product label (off-label) and the introduction of a new offence regarding the possession of certain high risk unregistered chemicals.

Under the new possession offence, people can no longer keep chemical products containing arsenic (note this excludes currently registered copper chromium arsenate products), fenthion, fenthion-ethyl, parathion, parathion-ethyl, parathion-methyl, or strychnine. 

“These are all high risk unregistered chemicals that pose significant risks to human and animal health, the environment and trade,” Laity said.

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