Requests for Confidential Commercial Information
This page outlines the APVMA's position on responding to requests for information from approval holders and registrants regarding their own confidential commercial information.
The APVMA frequently receives requests for confidential commercial information from approval holders and registrants who have acquired the approval or registration of existing active constituents or chemical products. Historically, the APVMA has processed these requests on the basis that previous approval holders or registrants provide letters of support authorising the disclosure. This is resource intensive and distracts the APVMA from core business.
Approval holders and registrants should not expect the APVMA to continue diverting its resources to identify, collate and distribute confidential commercial information between approval holders or registrants. The APVMA expects that when rights or interests are transferred between commercial entities, all relevant information relating to those rights or interests are transferred at the same time, including provision of formulation details.
Approval holders and registrants who have acquired an approval or registration should contact the previous approval holder or registrant directly to seek information previously submitted to the APVMA about their chemical.
If the new approval holder or registrant cannot obtain information directly from the previous approval holder or registrant, they will be invited to apply to access the information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Such applications will be processed in accordance with the procedural requirements set out in that Act, including the payment of fees and charges, consultation with third parties referenced in the documents, and consideration of exemptions that might apply to the information sought.
More Information
For more information regarding the process for accessing information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, please refer to the Freedom of Information page.