Agricultural Chemicals Regulatory Newsletter, November 2026

New approach to pre-application assistance

The APVMA introduced a new approach to pre-application assistance (PAA) from 16 October 2026.

This approach will enable our staff to focus on the core regulatory functions, while supporting our stakeholders through the delivery of efficient regulatory decisions. To better achieve this, we will be focussing resources for PAAs mostly on the following requests:

• Requests from government agencies addressing biosecurity risks.
• Item 27 timeshift applications, including novel technologies.
• Study protocol reviews.
• Global Joint Reviews or other international collaboration activities. 

Applications outside these circumstances may still be accepted where there is a strong or compelling reason to provide PAA. PAA applications received before 16 October 2026 will continue to be progressed under the arrangements in place when they were received until the existing backlog has been cleared. The PAA process will be subject to further review, and stakeholders will be advised of any changes.

Useful information for industry

This edition’s useful information for industry covers updates since our last newsletter:

• Appointment of new APVMA Executive Director, Science and Assurance
• Update on Chemical Review program
• Trans-Tasman pilot for joint product registration
• APVMA Regulatory Posture Statement 2026–30
• EPAC 2026
• Reporting adverse experiences
• External Scientific Reviewers

Appointment of new APVMA Executive Director, Science and Assurance

Earlier this year, the APVMA confirmed Mr James Deller as the new Executive Director, Science and Assurance. Before joining the APVMA on secondment in March 2026, Mr Deller was Director of the Residue Chemistry, Plant and Business Teams in the National Residue Survey, the Australian Government’s monitoring program for residues of pesticides, veterinary medicines and environmental contaminants in agricultural commodities of export significance. Mr Deller has also participated in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) working groups as well as CODEX committees on pesticides residues and on residues of veterinary drugs in foods. He now oversees the Chemical Review, Manufacturing Quality and Licensing (MQL) and Assurance, Science Policy and Capability and Records and Knowledge Management teams.

Update on Chemical Review program

The APVMA continues to progress its Chemical Review program to ensure registered agvet chemical products continue to meet contemporary safety, efficacy, trade and environmental standards. Chemical reviews play an important role in maintaining confidence in Australia's regulatory system by assessing new information that may affect the ongoing use of chemical products.

More information on current reviews, consultation opportunities and regulatory decisions is available on our website.

List of chemicals prioritised for reconsideration

On 3 June 2026, the APVMA published updates to the list of chemicals prioritised for reconsideration following a prioritisation assessment of new information. The list of chemicals prioritised to commence reconsideration by 2030 has been amended to include omethoate, which will be reconsidered concurrently with dimethoate, commencing in 2027. The list of priority chemicals also includes more detail of risks requiring assessment and data-gaps than previously, to assist interested stakeholders with identifying potential impacts and gather new information where appropriate.

Chlorpyrifos-methyl

On 9 June 2026, the APVMA commenced the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos-methyl and sought information from product holders and other stakeholders in a consultation that closed 8 September 2026. The reconsideration will examine matters including worker exposure, environmental impacts, residues and trade considerations.

Paraquat and diquat

On 23 June 2026, the APVMA published final regulatory decisions on the reconsiderations of diquat and paraquat active constituent approvals, product registrations and label approvals. These final regulatory decisions follow careful consideration of 171 submissions made to the APVMA in response to the proposed regulatory decisions published in July 2024. The APVMA determined that paraquat and diquat products manufactured prior to 23 June 2026 may be phased out over 2 years, but that products manufactured after 23 June 2026 will be required to bear the labels approved at the conclusion of the reconsiderations.

In September 2026, a Senate Inquiry was launched into the APVMA’s final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of paraquat. We understand the Parliament’s interest in the regulatory decision and welcome informed discussion on these issues.

First- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides

The APVMA is continuing its reconsideration of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. In March 2026, registrations for second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) were suspended for one year while the review continues. We also certified that it is in the public interest for SGARs to be declared Restricted Chemical Products (RCPs). Following this certification, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) undertook public consultation on the proposed declaration from 11 May to 11 June 2026. DAFF is now reviewing stakeholder feedback to inform the Australian Government's decision on whether SGARs should be declared RCPs. If approved, further work with states and territories will be required to establish the licensing and control-of-use arrangements that would apply to these products.

Trans-Tasman pilot for joint product registration

In March 2026, the APVMA and New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) launched a Trans‑Tasman pilot program to streamline the registration of agvet products in both Australia and New Zealand. The pilot aims to improve access to products across both markets by reducing regulatory duplication while maintaining rigorous safety, quality and efficacy standards.

Under the pilot, manufacturers were invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for products that are either new to both countries or that are already registered in one country and suitable for faster entry into the other. Selected applications will undergo joint assessment, allowing the two regulators to share and rely on each other’s scientific assessments where appropriate. This approach is intended to shorten approval timeframes and reduce administrative burden on industry.

The pilot builds on an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2025, which strengthened the long‑standing regulatory partnership between the APVMA and NZFS and increased acceptance of shared scientific evaluations. Through the pilot, both agencies will test and refine shared‑assessment processes, supporting more efficient future regulatory pathways while safeguarding public, animal and environmental health.

For further information or to submit expressions of interest, email:
New Zealand: approvals@mpi.govt.nz
Australia: enquiries@apvma.gov.au

APVMA Regulatory Posture Statement 2026–30

We released our Regulatory Posture Statement 2026–30 earlier this year. This statement outlines how the APVMA applies our statutory powers, delivers our regulatory functions, and engages with industry, government and the community to build trust and maintain confidence in Australia’s agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals regulatory system.

The Statement articulates the principles, behaviours and expectations underpinning the APVMA’s role as an independent regulator, and reinforces our commitment to being trusted, transparent, fair and accountable. The posture supports consistent regulatory behaviour, sets out what is important to APVMA as a regulator, and provides a coherent framework that guides our strategic priorities and day-to-day regulatory practice.

The Regulatory Posture Statement responds to recommendations from the Australian Government’s review of the APVMA’s future governance arrangements and reflects our renewed focus on continuous improvement, transparency and stakeholder engagement to strengthen confidence in the agvet chemical regulatory system.

EPAC2026

On 19 and 20 February 2026, the APVMA hosted an international conference on Advancing Sustainability in Agriculture: Enabling Precision Application of Crop Protection Products by Inclusion in Regulatory Approaches (Processes), also known as EPAC2026.

Sponsored by the OECD, EPAC2026 was attended by delegates from Australia and overseas from a wide range of stakeholder groups, including regulators from the EU, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, research and academia, equipment manufacturers, the crop protection industry, growers and grower representatives.

In addition to hearing presentations from a range of national and international speakers, delegates participated in a hands-on workshop held on day 2 of the conference, focusing on updating definitions, use patterns and risk assessment strategies to build trust in novel technologies, and improving label language to better support precision application.

The EPAC 2026 conference generated valuable discussions, insights and collaborative exchanges among regulators, researchers, industry representatives and policy experts working in precision application and sustainable agriculture.

Presentations and the final report from EPAC2026 are available on our website, and recordings of presentations are available on our YouTube channel.

Reporting adverse experiences

The Adverse Experience Reporting Program (AERP) is a post-registration program that assesses reports of adverse experiences associated with the use of a registered agvet chemical product (or those on permit). Reports of adverse experiences are closely monitored by the APVMA.

It is vital to record, assess and classify adverse experiences to detect uncommon events not evident during the initial registration process of a product.

Problems reported with chemical products may result in further regulatory action in accordance with the legislation, for instance, through compliance action or chemical review. If the issue reported is related to control of use, or is otherwise outside the jurisdiction of the APVMA, the information may be referred to the appropriate authority.

Anyone can report an adverse experience through the AERP online reporting form, and the APVMA website provides some guidance on the type of information that should be reported to the AERP.

External Scientific Reviewers

The APVMA is seeking to expand its pool of External Scientific Reviewers (ESRs) to support the scientific assessment of agricultural chemical products.

As an ESR, you will be engaged under contract to independently assess technical information submitted by applicants. These assessments may relate to new product registrations, variations to existing approvals, or chemical reconsiderations (reviews) undertaken to ensure that registered products continue to meet contemporary scientific standards.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the regulation of chemical products used across Australia’s agvet sectors, and to play a direct role in maintaining the safety and effectiveness of these products in the market.

If you are interested in joining the pool of ESRs, more information is available on the APVMA website.