Export, Research and Miscellaneous Permits
View the Guide for Determining Emergency Uses or Research Purposes (PDF, 43kb).
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Export Permits
Export permit applications are made under category 19 and are issued to legalise the possession of an unregistered product or unapproved active for the purposes of export to other countries, or where Australia will be used as a distribution point for products or active constituents manufactured elsewhere in the world. Export permits are typically issued to manufacturers, registrants and distributors.
Export permits DO NOT allow supply for the purpose of use within Australia.
An application form and the category 19 guideline can be found in the table of Permit types, categories, fees and, timeframes.
Related Import/Export Requirements
Export permits are not a Certificate for Export. Many countries require a Certificate for Export when receiving chemical products as an assurance from the Australian Government that the exported chemical is suitable for supply and use. A separate application form must be submitted with the Export permit application form to obtain a Certificate for Export.
If importing an unregistered product or unapproved active a separate consent to import is also required.
Consent to Import
Research trials which require the import of an unregistered product or unapproved active constituent require a separate consent to import certificate. Details of this certificate may be found on the consent to import page. A separate import application form must be submitted with the permit application to allow legal import of an unregistered product or unapproved active into Australia.
- where the product will be dealt with under an APVMA Permit
Application for Consent to Import (APVMA Permit - KP40_F88) (RTF, 179kb)
Research Permits
Application to the APVMA for a research permit to conduct small-scale trials may not be required provided that the research use complies with all of the conditions of the small-scale trial permit PER7250 (including the requirement that no produce resulting from the trial will be made available for human consumption). View permit PER7250 through the Permits Search.
Research Permits (Category 23) allow for chemical products to be used in research trials of varying size for scientific purposes. Research uses may involve either:
- the unapproved (‘off-label’) use of an existing registered agricultural chemical product; or
- the use of an unregistered agricultural chemical product.
For the purposes of a research permit application, the APVMA defines research to be technical work of an investigative nature which occurs during development of new agricultural chemicals. It includes scientific research or investigation relevant to generating data required by the APVMA for registration or approval and includes:
- screening of potential new active constituents or products
- generating data required by the APVMA for registration or approval
- testing a particular set of label instructions, new packaging or application technology
- undertaking a scientific study where the use of an active constituent or product is crucial to the conduct of the experiment
- other work determined by the APVMA to be genuine research.
Situations that will generally not be considered to be research include:
- market testing
- supply and use of an unregistered product in order to gain early market access.
Category 23 is a modular category and data must be provided when a technical assessment is required. Data requirements, the fee payable and timeframe depend on which of the modules are required for assessment of a particular permit application. The modules are described in Module levels for modular categories in Volume 3 of the Manual of Requirements & Guidelines (MORAG). Exemption from data requirements are discussed in the Category 23 guideline.
An application form and the category 23 guideline can be found in the table of Permit types, categories, fees and, timeframes.
Miscellaneous Permits
Category 23 also includes application for a permit that would nullify offences under sections 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 79A, 79B, 80, 81, 84, 85, 87, 87A, or 91 of the Agvet Code. These sections relate to the possession and supply of active constituents, chemical substances and chemical products, and offences relating to labels and claims.
The most common other (miscellaneous) permit applications under Category 23 include:
- supply of a particular batch or batches of a registered product where the batch does not comply with product specifications
- overstickering of information on the approved label of a registered product.
An application form (KP25 F14) (DOC, 366kb) has been developed for these common miscellaneous permit types. Applications for other miscellaneous permits may be accompanied by a covering letter only, however applicants should review the Manual of Requirements & Guidelines (MORAG) to determine what information the APVMA may require for evaluation.
Application forms and the category 23 guideline can be found in the table of Permit types, categories, fees and, timeframes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Apply for a Permit?
Any suitable person who meets the permit holder criteria may apply for an export, research or miscellaneous permit.
How Do I Apply?
All applications for a permit must be made in writing and comply with all requirements outlined in section 2 of the appropriate permit category guideline. Permit application forms, guidelines and fee schedules may be found in the table of Permit types, categories, fees and, timeframes.
How Long are Permits Issued For?
Export Permits (Category 19) are issued for two years only.
Category 23 Permits (research and miscellaneous) are issued for a finite period based on the application and an evaluation of the time reasonably expected to require the research or miscellaneous use to be completed.
How Do I Renew a Permit?
Applications for renewal of export, research or other miscellaneous permits may be made under category 20 in the table of Permit types, categories, fees and, timeframes where no changes or a technical assessment is required. Any changes requiring technical assessment must be made under the applicable categories.
Permit Contacts
For more information please contact:
Permits for trial or off-label use of chemicals
Pesticides
Phone: +61 2 6210 4748
Fax: +61 2 6210 4776
email: pesticides@apvma.gov.au