Consent to import unapproved active constituents or unregistered agricultural or veterinary chemical products

Under section 69(B) of the Agricultural and Veterinary (Administration) Act 1992 a person must not import into Australia an unregistered agricultural or veterinary chemical product or an unapproved active constituent, unless it has either been exempted from the provisions or the importer has obtained a Consent to Import from the APVMA (prior to March 2003 known as the NRA). Further details may be found in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No NRA.6, 3rd June 1997.

The provisions in the legislation which prohibit the importation of unapproved active constituents or unregistered products allow the APVMA to more effectively control imported agricultural and veterinary chemicals at a single point (Customs barrier), rather that at multiple points in the marketplace. The exemption by consent from this provision may be provided to allow persons to import unregistered agricultural and veterinary chemical products and unapproved active constituents under special but limited circumstances such as:

activities covered by an APVMA Permit (see information about permits on this site or search for a permit)

trials or research (including small-scale trial permit 7250),
supply/use (including minor use or emergency use), or
export (products will not be registered in Australia and will be exported from Australia.

prior to a product being granted registration (relevant fees have been paid and registration is imminent),
limited promotions or events (where the product will then be re-exported or destroyed), or
in the case of veterinary products, a registered veterinarian prescribes the use of an unregistered product and imports that product on behalf of a client.

Evidence of an application for a Permit must be provided before a Consent to Import is granted in relation to an importation as part of a Permit.

A person who imports an unapproved active constituent or an unregistered product under a Consent to Import cannot on-supply to other parties in Australia unless a Permit specifically allows for such action.

Applications for a Consent to Import may be made using the Application for Consent to Import (KP40_F37).

Importers should be aware that some commodities require additional approvals from agencies other than the APVMA. It is the importer's responsibility to check with these agencies:

Further information on Consent to Import may be obtained from the Import Consent Coordinator - see Contacts.