Corporate Plan 2026–30

1. Introduction

We are pleased to present the 2026–30 Corporate Plan for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The APVMA is the independent statutory authority responsible for regulating agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in Australia to protect the health and safety of people, animals and the environment, and to support primary industries, biosecurity and international trade for all Australians.

The authority aspires to be a global leader in agricultural and veterinary chemicals regulation for the benefit of Australia. To achieve that vision, the APVMA engages and works collaboratively with stakeholders to build community trust and confidence in its role as the national regulator.

The APVMA is committed to undertaking its functions with integrity, making evidence-based decisions, and adopting the best practice principles outlined in the Australian Government’s Regulator Performance Guide:

• Continuous improvement and building trust
• Risk-based and data-driven
• Collaboration and engagement

This corporate plan has been prepared to support the implementation of the APVMA Strategic Plan 2025–30 which focuses priorities and resources on 5 strategic objectives:

1. Being a trusted, transparent and fair regulator
2. Supporting a contemporary regulatory system
3. Building regulatory foresight capability
4. Striving for operational excellence
5. Attracting, developing and retaining talented people

The APVMA Regulatory Posture Statement, outlines how it regulates, conducts itself and what the regulated community can expect. Written in plain language, the statement explains how the APVMA exercises its statutory powers, delivers the full range of regulatory functions, and engages with industry, regulated entities and the Australian community. It reaffirms the commitment to being a trusted, transparent and fair regulator, and provides a shared reference point for the principles, behaviours and expectations that guide the regulator’s work each day.

The APVMA operates in a rapidly evolving operating environment shaped by accelerating technological innovation, shifting community expectations, rising biosecurity risks, variable economic conditions, and the increasing impacts of climate change. These forces will continue to reshape Australia’s agricultural and veterinary sectors, influencing both the types of products being developed and the regulatory approaches required to ensure their safe and effective use.

To remain a trusted, modern and effective regulator, the APVMA will focus on strengthening its science-based decision-making and regulatory stewardship. Ongoing advances in biological products, precision application technologies, digital agriculture, and novel veterinary treatments will require the APVMA to develop and implement more contemporary assessment frameworks and flexible pathways that support innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety.

At the same time, stronger stakeholder expectations for transparency, compliance and responsiveness, alongside increasing biosecurity and climate-driven pressures, will require the APVMA to enhance its collaboration across governments, industries and communities. Through targeted investment in capability, modernisation of processes and the regulatory excellence, the APVMA is preparing to meet these future challenges and enable a safe, competitive and resilient agvet system for Australia.

On behalf of the Board, as the accountable authority of the APVMA, we are proud to present the APVMA Corporate Plan 2026–30, covering the period 2026–27 to 2029–30, as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and section 51 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992.

Dr Catherine Ainsworth
Board Chair

Mr Scott Hansen
Chief Executive Officer

1.1. Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

1.2. Our purpose

The APVMA regulates agricultural and veterinary chemicals to protect the health and safety of people, animals and the environment, and to support primary industries, biosecurity and international trade for all Australians.

1.3. Our vision

To be a global leader in agricultural and veterinary chemicals regulation for the benefit of Australia.

1.4. Our values

The APVMA upholds the Australian Public Service (APS) Values as set out in the Public Service Act 1999:

• Impartial – apolitical and provide advice that is frank, honest, timely, and based on the best available evidence
• Committed to service – professional, objective, innovative and efficient
• Accountable – open and accountable to our stakeholders across the Australian community
• Respectful – respect all people, including their rights and their heritage
• Ethical – demonstrate leadership, are trustworthy, and act with integrity
• Stewardship – build capability and institutional knowledge, and support the public interest now and into the future, by understanding the long-term impacts of what we do

These values are applied through the APVMA values and behaviours.

2. Operating context

2.1. Our functions, powers and the legislative framework

The APVMA is the national regulator of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in Australia, in line with the responsibilities set out in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 and the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994.

The regulatory framework for managing agvet chemicals in Australia is collectively referred to as the National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (NRS). Under the NRS framework, APVMA is responsible for the regulation and control of agvet chemicals up to and including the point of retail sale. The APVMA also administers the import and export of chemicals and medicines.

The NRS is a cooperative scheme between the APVMA and all Australian states and territories that operate under mirror legislation, consistent with the arrangements set out in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994. The agvet laws identify which chemicals and products need to be registered or approved by the APVMA, and which chemicals and products are exempt from requiring registration.

The core regulatory functions of the APVMA are:

• Assess the suitability for supply in Australia of active constituents, chemical products and product labels, and make decisions on approvals, registrations, variations, suspensions and cancellations in accordance with the Agvet Codes.
• Provide information and cooperate with Commonwealth, state and territory governments on approved active constituents, registered and reserved chemical products, approved labels, and broader matters relating to the management and control of chemical products.
• Maintain records and statistics on approvals, registrations, permits and licences issued under the Agvet Codes.
• Evaluate the effects of chemical product use in states and participating territories and ensure ongoing scientific assessment and risk-management approaches remain contemporary.
• Support a nationally consistent approach to the assessment, regulation and control of chemicals across jurisdictions.
• Develop codes of practice, standards and guidelines, and recommend precautions for the manufacture, export, import, sale, handling, possession, storage, disposal and use of chemical products, in cooperation with governments and authorities.
• Collect, interpret, disseminate and publish information relating to chemical products and their use, and encourage the application of evaluation and testing results.
• Exchange information with overseas and international bodies that have similar regulatory functions.
• Advise or report to the Minister on matters relating to chemical products, either when requested or on the APVMA’s own initiative.
• Monitor compliance and undertake enforcement activities to ensure active constituents, chemical products and labels comply with legislative requirements and protect the Australian community.

The APVMA monitors and enforces compliance with the Agvet Code and other legislation through the:

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products (Collection of Levy) Act 1994.

The APVMA Strategic Plan 2025–30, Regulatory Posture Statement 2026–30 and the Corporate Plan 2026–30 have been prepared to align with the Ministerial Statement of Expectations (issued 22 December 2025) and the Regulator Statement of Intent (issued 17 February 2026). Copies of these documents are available at https://www.apvma.gov.au/node/355171.

2.2. Funding

The APVMA is primarily funded on a cost recovery basis by the agricultural and veterinary chemical industry that it regulates. Applicants pay fees and charges for application evaluations, and registrants pay levies based on the wholesale value of the chemicals they sell.

The Australian Government’s overarching Cost Recovery Policy is that, where appropriate, non-government recipients of specific government activities should be charged some or all the efficient costs of those activities. The Cost Recovery Policy aims to promote consistent, transparent, and accountable charging for government activities and supports the proper use of public resources.

Ensuring the APVMA operates on a financially sustainable footing across the full business cycle remains a core priority. To that end, the APVMA has worked closely with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to address long term financial sustainability and strengthen the foundations of regulatory capability.

In 2026, the Australian Government endorsed a revised Cost Recovery Policy for the APVMA, introducing several important changes designed to support a more stable and transparent funding model. These include:

• enabling the APVMA to directly recover the full cost of its fee for service activities
• providing ongoing appropriation to meet the costs associated with emergency permit applications
• introducing a nominal fee for minor use permit applications, with remaining costs to be shared equally between sales levies and Commonwealth government appropriations. 

Building on this direction, the APVMA Cost Recovery Implementation Statement will ensure the authority is properly resourced to deliver the full suite of regulatory responsibilities while maintaining long term financial sustainability.

2.3. Australian Government policy priorities

2.3.1. Ministerial Expectations and Directions

The Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a new Ministerial Statement of Expectations on 22 December 2025. It sets out the government’s expectations for how the APVMA will deliver its regulatory functions. This includes implementing commitments from the Detailed response to the Final Report on Future Structure and Governance Arrangements for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (Detailed response). It also supports the broader government goal for Commonwealth regulators to better balance risk mitigation with efficiency, growth and dynamism with the aim to help lift national productivity.

In addition, on 14 July 2023 the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a direction under Section 10 of the Administration Act to the APVMA requiring the prioritisation of 8 legacy chemical reviews. The authority has completed final decisions on 5 of these and published proposed decisions on 2. Completion of the remaining chemical reviews remains an APVMA priority.

2.3.2. Detailed Government Response

In November 2024 the Australian Government released the Detailed Response. The Detailed Response was developed to complement the Government’s APS regulatory reform agenda and provides a direct response to several reviews of the APVMA and the agvet chemicals regulatory system undertaken over the last 4 years.

The Detailed Response outlines a future program of reforms that will be undertaken by DAFF and the APVMA. These reforms cover a wide spectrum of areas including regulatory posture, stakeholder engagement, governance and performance, sustainable resourcing and regulatory processes. It also outlines proposed improvements to regulatory policy areas that will be considered in line with government best practice including consistency and efficiency in control-of-use regulation, monitoring the effectiveness of the regulatory system, and chemical review improvements.

2.3.3. Regulatory Productivity

In July 2025, the Australian Government asked regulators and portfolio departments for ideas to improve regulation and reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses and consumers. Six key themes were identified from the responses:

1. Regulatory simplification – making approvals and processes faster and easier to follow and improving rules, guidance and forms
2. Enabling digital and data capability – applying artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital solutions to work more efficiently and support innovation and growth
3. Better engagement – working closely with stakeholders through co-design, better consultation and stronger feedback loops
4. Improved transparency and performance – sharing work plans and using tools to measure and report on performance
5. Greater collaboration – aligning registers and standards and reducing barriers to sharing data between agencies
6. Targeted reforms – making changes in specific sectors that support innovation and efficiency while maintaining public trust

The APVMA identified 6 opportunities to bolster productivity growth through its process enhancement initiatives:

2.4. Regulatory Posture

The APVMA operates with a clearly defined regulatory framework, underpinned by the Regulatory Posture Statement which is aligned with the APVMA’s legislative framework and the Ministerial Statement of Expectations. The Regulatory Posture Statement states:

• We are accountable to the Australian public and to the Parliament
• We deliver the full suite of regulatory functions in accordance with legislative obligations
• We place the onus on applicants and registrants to satisfy the legislative requirements
• We make consistent and predictable decisions that are data-driven and evidence-based
• We apply risk-based approaches that support productivity
• We act swiftly when there is evidence of non-compliance
• We are clear and concise in communications

This posture ensures that the APVMA is clearly articulating how it regulates, how it behaves and what the regulated community can expect from it. There is a tangible and important alignment between the Strategic Plan 2025–30, this Corporate Plan and the Regulatory Posture Statement. Taken together, these form the framework to guide the strategic direction of the APVMA over the coming 4 years.

2.5. Environment

The APVMA operates within a highly complex and changing environment influenced by multiple and interacting factors. Some of the more important factors include:

• modernising through emerging technologies
• changing societal attitudes towards regulation and compliance
• increasing biosecurity risk
• economic circumstances
• a changing climate.

While most of these factors are outside of the APVMAs control, it must be prepared for them and proactively respond to them. Where possible, the APVMA needs to do what it can to influence the outcome for the benefit of Australia and Australians.

2.5.1. Modernising through emerging technologies

Approaches to designing, manufacturing, using and disposing of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines are evolving rapidly. Regulators now need to adapt quickly to keep pace with modern expectations. Globally, users of agricultural chemicals are shifting away from older chemistries driven by resistance, safety concerns and public pressure. This shift is accelerating innovation in new and alternative non-chemical products and solutions such as integrated pest-management practices.

Similar macrolevel forces, including advances in biotechnology and changing animal health needs, are reshaping the use and development of veterinary pharmaceuticals. As these trends progress, scientific safety assessment and risk-management practices will continue to be enhanced to ensure regulatory decisions remain robust and evidence-based.

Precision agriculture uses detailed spatial, temporal and individual plant or animal data to guide management decisions that improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability. Chemical application technologies for farming and land management activities are advancing quickly, with optical spot-spraying, drones (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) and fully automated systems becoming increasingly common. The APVMA incorporates evolving application methods into its risk assessments when evaluating proposed chemical uses to enable uptake and benefit Australian agricultural productivity and competitiveness globally.

New approach methodologies (NAMs) are innovative scientific approaches that aim to provide more accurate, efficient, human-relevant and risk factored information to inform the safety assessment of veterinary chemicals while reducing the reliance on in vivo vertebrate testing. These methods leverage advances in in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico methods to predict toxicity and understand physiological effects on animals. Regulatory acceptance of NAMs for safety assessment of veterinary chemicals is increasing globally and it is imperative that the APVMA have the knowledge and expertise needed to evaluate dossiers containing NAM-derived data.

Investment in the development of mRNA vaccines for use in veterinary medicines has been growing in recent years as these vaccines represent a promising alternative to traditional vaccine approaches because of their high potency, capacity for rapid development to reduce development lead times, potential for low-cost manufacture and safe administration.

Research is underway in Australia and overseas to develop new vaccines for livestock diseases such as lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease. The APVMA expects to receive applications to register newly developed mRNA vaccines. It is working closely with industry, researchers and federal, state and territory governments to shape an accurate regulatory approach. This work aims to ensure that risks to people, animals, the environment and Australian trade are properly assessed and managed. It also helps Australia capture the benefits of these emerging technologies.

Biological agricultural products (also known as biopesticides), derived from natural materials such as plants, bacteria, viruses and certain minerals, are being developed to deliver benefits including reduced or eliminated chemical residues, lower risk of resistance development, shorter re-entry intervals, biodegradability and a reduced carbon footprint. These products offer opportunities to support integrated pest management programs by complementing synthetic chemicals for resistance management, reducing reliance on conventional chemistries, and maintaining or improving crop yield and quality, while aligning with broader sustainability and environmental stewardship objectives.

Emerging technologies in the biological space include dsRNA-based agricultural chemicals and bacteriophage. Both of these represent novel and targeted approaches to pest management that require the APVMA to ensure it has both the scientific capability to assess and the legislative framework to regulate.

It is anticipated that there will be from 10 to 20 percent annual growth in the biologicals sector and the APVMA recognises that it must play a critical and enhanced role in facilitating the availability of these emerging technologies through the development of appropriate regulatory processes. The APVMA is working with stakeholders in efforts to develop a formal regulatory definition and streamlining biological agricultural product regulation.

Over the next 5 years, progress towards the implementation of e-labels and smart labels for agvet chemical products is expected to gain momentum. This is an important development within the global regulatory context. The APVMA is actively monitoring, and participating in, as appropriate, the global progress on the development and implementation of e-labels and smart labels. The APVMA is positioning itself to ensure these new labelling systems achieve their intended purpose of enhancing label access and functionality to meet Australia’s specific needs.

2.5.2. Changing societal attitudes towards regulation and compliance

All Australians expect the APVMA to be a trusted, transparent and fair regulator that makes scientifically robust regulatory decisions. This is achieved by adhering to best practice principles, operating according to the statutory criteria and utilising the best available scientific information and methods. It is critical that the APVMA continues its mandate to be a risk-based regulator for the Australian agvet chemical regulatory system.

All agvet chemical products sold in Australia must display an APVMA registration number on their label unless exempt from registration. The importation, distribution, sale and use of unregistered veterinary products represent a potential risk to the health and safety of Australians, Australia’s livestock industries, companion animals, cropping systems, and the environment. The availability of unregistered products through a variety of online platforms and pathways is an ongoing regulatory challenge.

It is important to Australians that the APVMA uses the full range of its statutory powers to ensure compliance with the Agvet Code. The authority continues to take strong action to protect the community, demonstrated by a significant year-on-year increase in the removal of unregistered agvet chemical products from online marketplaces, with further growth expected in 2026–27. To support this work, the APVMA is exploring software solutions to automate much of the current manual searching, which is anticipated to boost detection and removal of unregistered products.

The APVMA works with major online marketplaces (including eBay, Amazon, Facebook, Gumtree, Kogan and others) to ensure products sold through these platforms comply with agvet legislation. The APVMA will continue to collaborate with these platforms to remove unregistered products and identify the entities responsible for creating these listings to undertake appropriate compliance and enforcement action. By using the full suite of statutory powers to ensure compliance, the APVMA creates a level playing field for registrants to supply their agvet chemical products in the Australian market.

2.5.3. Increasing biosecurity risk

Biosecurity measures play a critical role in reducing the risk of invasive pests and diseases entering Australia and eradicating, controlling, and/or monitoring those already established. While Australia has long benefited from being an island nation, factors including growth in trade volumes and people travelling are increasing the chance of incursions from international sources.

The APVMA is committed to working with Commonwealth and State and Territory partner agencies on potential biosecurity concerns through the provision of regulatory functions including the issuing of emergency permits and supporting the registration of critical new agvet chemicals for use against these emerging threats.

The last few years have seen several incursions of exotic pests or disease within Australia, including fall armyworms, banana freckle, red imported fire ants, and varroa mites. APVMA will continue to assist industry and the states and territories with responding to these, and any future incursions.

2.5.4. Economic circumstances

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics March 2026 Agricultural Commodities Report indicates that Australia’s agricultural sector is entering a period of weakened performance, with the gross value of agricultural production forecast to fall by 6 per cent, export values by 9 per cent, and average broadacre farm business profits by 40 per cent in 2026–27.

These forecast declines are driven by reduced commodity prices, lower production volumes, and constrained seasonal conditions, particularly below average rainfall across southern agricultural regions. Higher input costs including labour, fuel, fertiliser, services, and chemicals combined with a strengthening Australian dollar are expected to further compress margins, limiting producers’ capacity to invest and reducing overall activity across broadacre industries.

These economic conditions are expected to influence chemical use patterns across the sector. Chemical prices are forecast to rise due to increased input costs, combined with forecasts for reduced planting areas, lower farm incomes, and high irrigation water prices are likely to constrain total chemical purchase volumes in broadacre cropping systems.

At the same time, climate related pressures such as dry conditions, increased pest and weed risks, and biosecurity threats may intensify reliance on certain crop protection products, particularly within higher value horticultural sectors. As a result, total chemical expenditure is forecast to remain steady or rise modestly even as application volumes shift or decline.

2.5.5. A changing climate

The impact of climate change on the products regulated by the APVMA will require the Agency to adapt and evolve both its internal operations and its regulatory approaches.

Climate change is already impacting the distribution and behaviours of key pests. Some pests are now active for longer durations each year while others can complete additional life cycles within a single season. This results in higher pest pressures on crops, livestock, and the environment. In addition, extreme weather events can create favourable environments for outbreaks of insects, weeds, and plant diseases that were previously limited by climate constraints.

These developments have important implications for agvet chemical regulation as increased pest pressures may require expansion of existing products through new use patterns and the introduction of new registered products. Climate-driven changes in pest dynamics also reinforce the importance of ongoing scientific assessment, surveillance, and regulatory agility to ensure that chemical products remain effective and ensure the health and safety of people, animals and the environment.

3. Strategic objectives and key activities

3.1. Strategic objective 1: Being a trusted, transparent and fair regulator

Trust in the APVMA by the Australian public is critical to maintaining confidence in Australian agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals To ensure we are trusted, transparent, and fair we will:

• Strategic outcomes:
  • Regulate in an open, accountable and predictable way that encourages participation by all stakeholders.
  • Utilise best practice principles for risk management of agvet chemicals, underpinned by the best available science.
  • Build community confidence in the safety and efficacy of registered agvet chemicals.
  • Secure compliance with the Agvet Code through compliance and enforcement measures.
• Key deliverables:
  • Develop and implement an enhanced application process
  • Chemical Reviews (Ministerial Direction)
  • Develop guidance for reference products and pathways for generics
  • Regulatory Risk Manager Training to build capacity and ensure legislative compliance

3.2. Strategic objective 2: Supporting a contemporary regulatory system

The APVMA actively works with domestic and international regulatory partners to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Australian regulatory system To ensure we support a contemporary regulatory system, we will:

• Strategic outcomes:
  • Actively contribute to the domestic and global agvet chemical regulation policy development agenda.
  • Engage with trusted international chemical regulators for effective utilisation of their available data and scientific assessments.
  • Strengthen relationships with the state and territory agencies to ensure the coordinated, effective and harmonious regulation of agvet chemicals.
  • Enhance our capability to respond to emerging operational and policy risks in agvet chemical regulation.
• Key deliverables:
  • Support Australian Government implementation of the Detailed response to the final report on future structure and governance arrangements for the APVMA (November 2024).
  • Engagement in the Agvet Chemical Subcommittee of the Agriculture Senior Officials Committee to develop options to achieve national consistency for agvet chemicals control-of-use functions.
  • Review of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) code.
  • Revision of crop groupings.
  • Operationalise trans-Tasman agreement with New Zealand to share new product assessments.

3.3. Strategic objective 3: Building regulatory foresight capability

Foresight is a critical part of our responsibility as a regulator. Foresight uses inputs from horizon scanning to understand how an issue or a system could evolve and the challenges and opportunities that may arise. The APVMA is committed to being proactive in meeting Australia’s future regulatory needs as they evolve. The APVMA will be vigilant to global and national trends, to identify issues and changes in chemical application and use and implement ways of working and building our capability to support innovation within the agvet chemical sector and respond to Australia’s future regulatory needs. To ensure we build our regulatory foresight capability, we will:

• Strategic outcomes:
  • Build the capability to ensure the APVMA is at the cutting edge of scientific knowledge and regulatory practice.
  • Engage with industry to understand and enable rapid response to emerging trends potentially impacting on agvet chemical regulation.
  • Actively engage with domestic and international regulators, industry representatives and others to assist in preparing for new technologies and enhancing current regulatory practices in Australia.
• Key deliverables:
  • Domestic and international fora engagement programs.
  • Guideline on Data Requirements for Veterinary Immunobiological Products.

3.4. Strategic objective 4: Striving for operational excellence

The APVMA plays a critical role in ensuring Australians have access to safe and effective agvet chemicals The APVMA drives ongoing enhancement in the processes involved in effective regulation This will ensure the regulatory process does not pose an undue burden on the Australian agvet chemical sector To ensure we achieve operational excellence, we will:

• Strategic outcomes:
  • Be focused on the full suite of our regulatory functions and legislative obligations.
  • Ensure the quality and timeliness of our decisions are appropriate for the regulatory risk.
  • Operate on a financially sustainable basis across the long-term business cycle.
  • Adopt a continuous improvement approach to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.
  • Streamline our enabling services to ensure they add value and enhance our regulatory capability and capacity.
  • Invest in our ICT infrastructure and the management of our data holdings to ensure it is fit for purpose and adds value, efficiency, and effectiveness to the regulatory process.
• Key deliverables:
  • PPLA Portal uplift program.
  • Implement new managed service provider for ICT services.
  • Cost Recovery Policy review and Implementation.
  • Enhance applicant experience through improvements to external portal functionality.
  • Improve data list editor functionality and integration with data management systems.

3.5. Strategic objective 5: Attracting, developing and retaining talented people

Our people are critical to the delivery of an efficient and effective agvet chemical regulatory system. To ensure we attract, develop, retain and source talented people, and expertise, we will:

• Strategic outcomes:
  • Develop and empower a high-performing, diverse and agile workforce that is highly engaged with our purpose.
  • Strengthen our purpose-driven organisational culture.
  • Drive a culture focused on enhancing skills, providing opportunities for skill development whilst ensuring the safety and well-being of staff.
  • Invest in the professional and leadership development of our people and provide opportunities for career progression and growth.
  • Invest in a network of external talent and expertise that can be utilised to supplement the work of APVMA staff in delivering our regulatory responsibilities.
• Key deliverables:
  • Enhance talent management and capability frameworks.
  • Enhance External Scientific Reviewer capability.
  • Regulatory Risk Manager Training to build capacity and ensure legislative compliance.
  • Strengthen professional and leadership development programs.

4. Capability

4.1. Strengthening regulatory maturity

The APVMA recognises that good regulation can enhance Australia’s economy, support business, and benefit the wider community. As required under the Australian Government’s Regulatory Policy, Practice & Performance Framework (RPPPF) and Resource Management Guide – Regulator Performance (RMG 128), the APVMA’s regulatory context is guided by its legislative framework, the Ministerial Statement of Expectations, and the APVMA Regulatory Posture Statement.

The APVMA Regulatory Posture Statement 2026–30 establishes a set of behaviours that outlines clear expectations and accountability to provide clarity for both employees and stakeholders with respect to their obligations. This reflects the commitment to being a trusted, transparent and fair regulator. The authority recognises that trust is critical to its ability to regulate effectively, and that transparent engagement is essential to its approach.

In the release of this statement, the APVMA has revised its posture to articulate that it places the onus on applicants and registrants to satisfy the legislative requirements. This position enables staff to focus their time on assessing complete and valid submissions while rewarding quality applications, enabling them to achieve faster regulation.

Through this mechanism the APVMA is committed to proactively improving its regulatory systems, ensuring that its practices and processes remain relevant, coherent and effective.

4.2. Workforce

People are at the heart of the success of the APVMA, and the authority is focused on attracting, developing and retaining talented people. The APVMA is committed to implementing a comprehensive suite of policies and frameworks to ensure employees have the necessary tools and support to excel in their work.

The APVMA People Plan 2025–28 sets the overarching direction and priorities for achieving its purpose in alignment with the APVMA Strategic Plan 2025–30, with particular emphasis on strategic objective 5: attracting, developing and retaining talented people.

To do this, the People Plan leverages 4 pillars:

1. Strengthen recruitment and development of people
2. Embed a purpose-driven organisational culture
3. Build purposeful and integrity-based leadership
4. Embrace data, HR Metrics and technology

Through the delivery of contemporary training solutions and continuous development, the APVMA workforce will be well-supported, developed and equipped with the skills and confidence to excel.

The APVMA will continue to build, deliver and embed programs that support its people to be effective leaders aligned to the APS Values, with a focus on implementing a formalised succession planning approach to ensure leadership and critical role pipelines.

4.3. ICT and Artificial Intelligence

The ability of the APVMA to make scientifically robust and timely regulatory decisions is dependant not only on highly capable staff but also on the tools and systems provided to them. These tools and systems (mostly ICT) must be designed to support and enhance staff productivity, efficiency and wellbeing.

The APVMA will develop an updated ICT, Digital and Data Strategy in 2026–27 that will shape future ICT investment and capability uplift across the agency, to:

• deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable ICT services
• better enable innovation, including transforming manual processes into improved digital practices
• assist in managing data as a critical asset and opportunity for the agency.

Delivering contemporary, secure, and robust business systems is critical for ensuring the APVMA remains a global leader in agvet chemical regulation. APVMA will continue to build the operational capability required to ensure information technology platforms are aligned with the needs of the authority and stakeholders, while also optimising value for money for the government.

Artificial intelligence, as distinct from automation and automated decision-making, is developing rapidly, and the Australian Government is investigating opportunities to leverage the technology to increase efficiency and productivity. The APVMA is exploring artificial intelligence technologies to improve efficiency and productivity of regulatory and business processes, while ensuring regulatory judgements and decision-making remain the preserve of people, while facilitating the existing use of rules-based processing in accordance with legislation.

Technological enhancements, including the use of artificial intelligence in controlled environments (wherein the APVMA has control over the data being utilised by software), are expected to improve APVMA processes. These tools can shorten assessment timeframes and increase regulatory productivity. For example, AI can automate the review of large datasets and reports, reducing the time needed for literature reviews and data analysis. The APVMA is also exploring ways to improve efficiency and consistency in report preparation, including editing and formatting, by using generative AI assistants.

Cyber security is an important focus across the Australian Public Service. As information technology continues to change and evolve, so too does the need to remain vigilant and responsive to a more threatening technological landscape. The APVMA will continue to evolve its cyber security posture to achieve improvements in the Essential Eight Maturity rating while also addressing contemporary threats.

4.4. Enterprise Risk

The APVMAs risk approach and culture enables its people to manage risks in accordance with the PGPA Act 2013, Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Commonwealth Risk Management Policy, and ISO 31000:2018 – Risk Management. The APVMA’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework outlines the principles, expectations, accountabilities, and responsibilities for staff in applying effective risk management practices.

The Framework also defines the risk appetite and provides risk tolerance statements. These statements articulate the quantum and type of risk the APVMA is willing to accept or retain to achieve its objectives.

The APVMA recognises that it is not possible, nor desirable, to eliminate all risks. Accepting some degree of risk in the agency’s practices promotes pragmatism, efficiency and innovation along with encouraging a more positive risk management culture. The APVMA fosters this through careful consideration of the risk appetite for each risk category, and then tolerance level for individual risks, as outlined in the Risk Appetite and Tolerance Statement.

APVMAs governance structures play an important role in ensuring it has effective leadership, direction, control, and accountability. The governance structures include the:

• APVMA Board, which determines the risk appetite and tolerances and oversees the strategic risks that may affect the ability to deliver on the purpose and achieve its objectives
• Audit and Risk Committee, which advises the Board and senior executives on the effectiveness of the systems of risk oversight, management and internal control
• Executive Team, which stewards the management of enterprise risks, and senior executives ensure risk-informed decision-making is embedded across business operations.

APVMA staff proactively engage with and practice risk management. Staff actively support and contribute to risk management initiatives, promote a positive risk management culture, and identify where there are risk management capability gaps and training needs.

4.5. Engagement and cooperation

The APVMAs approach to stakeholder engagement and cooperation is outward-looking and interactive, leveraging stakeholders’ expertise and harnessing collective capabilities to achieve better outcomes. Through the Stakeholder Engagement Framework, the APVMA aims to:

• regulate openly, accountably, and predictably while encouraging broad stakeholder participation
• apply best-practice principles for agvet chemical risk management, supported by the latest science
• build community confidence in the safety and efficacy of registered agvet chemicals
• support applicants to understand legislative requirements and improve submission quality
• ensure compliance with the Agvet Code through appropriate enforcement measures.

Engagement activities are both planned and responsive, ranging from formal consultations to informational meetings and correspondence. The APVMA engages with stakeholders when:

• fulfilling its regulatory obligations under legislation
• communicating regulatory decisions
• seeking feedback on operational changes
• sharing information with the public and specific stakeholder groups.

The APVMA maintains 4 key advisory forums to provide expert advice and stakeholder perspectives to the APVMA on strategic matters relating to the statutory criteria of safety, efficacy, trade, and labelling in the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:

1.  APVMA Advisory Group
2. National Registration Scheme Advisory Group
3. Agricultural Chemicals Working Group
4.  Veterinary Medicines Working Group

Members of each Group include industry representative bodies, agvet chemical users, state and territory governments, other regulators and Australian community groups. Together this breadth of membership provides a broad range of expertise and perspectives, affording opportunities to understand diverse stakeholder perspectives and support good regulatory processes through holding varied, evidence-based and balanced stakeholder dialogue.

5. Performance measures

5.1. Strategic objective 1: Being a trusted, transparent and fair regulator

5.2. Strategic objective 2: Supporting a contemporary regulatory system

5.3. Strategic objective 3: Building regulatory foresight capability

5.4. Strategic objective 4: Striving for operational excellence

5.5. Strategic objective 5: Attracting, developing and retaining talented people