ANAO AUDIT OF APVMA PERFORMANCE

In 2006 the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) conducted a performance audit of the APVMA.The audit was extensive and assessed whether the APVMA was delivering its key regulatory functions effectively.

Scope

The ANAO examined APVMA arrangements for:

  • Planning and overseeing the delivery of regulatory functions;
  • Registering pesticides and veterinary medicines in a timely manner;
  • Obtaining external scientific advice to support the registration function;
  • Monitoring the quality of pesticides and veterinary medicines approved for sale in Australia; and
  • Administering its cost recovery framework.

Report

The ANAO audit report ‘Regulation of Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines’ was released on 7 December 2006. It contained six recommendations dealing with:

  • improved management of conflict of interest for advisory committees and service providers
  • improving reporting and transparency of registration timeframe performance
  • strategies for improving the quality of applications
  • the arrangements for receiving scientific advice from government agencies
  • improving the Manufacturers Licensing Scheme
  • optimising the management of throughput and transparency within the Chemical Review Program.

In addition to the recommendations, the ANAO offered additional suggestions in the text of the report. (PDF document PDF - 1.5MB).

Implementation

The APVMA welcomed the report and agreed with all recommendations. The report acknowledges various initiatives that the APVMA has introduced in recent years to improve the effectiveness of its operations. However, the arena of chemicals regulation is constantly changing and the report provides valuable recommendations for further improvements.

Such an in-depth external audit provides confidence to stakeholders that the APVMA is effectively performing its responsibilities described in its governing legislation.

The APVMA has developed a comprehensive plan to implement all the ANAO recommendations and additional suggestions. In brief the APVMA will:

  1. strengthen existing conflict of interest provisions for external service providers and consultative committees;
  2. improve recording, monitoring and reporting of registration timeframes;
  3. periodically identify, and inform industry, of types of defects in registration applications;
  4. review arrangements for seeking scientific advice from other Australian government agencies;
  5. further improve auditing processes for the Manufacturing Licensing Scheme; and
  6. review the Chemical Review Program to assess the adequacy of the current approach and increase communications of progress of reviews.

The implementation process is well underway.

The APVMA’s implementation plan (PDF document PDF - 94KB) includes information on progress against the implementation actions and is regularly updated.

The implementation of the ANAO recommendations and suggestions will further improve the effectiveness of delivery of the APVMA’s regulatory functions.

Media enquiries: Simon Cubit 02 6210 4869

All other enquiries: John Paul 02 6210 4738