The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has today opened public consultation on its proposed Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS), which sets out how the Australian Government’s new sustainable funding policy for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemical regulation will be implemented.
The proposed CRIS outlines changes to the fees and levies including a move to recover the full cost of pre-market assessment activities upfront and a reduction in sales-based levies that impact Australian farmers.
CEO Scott Hansen said the APVMA was focused on supporting constructive engagement with regulated entities, industry bodies, farmer representatives and other stakeholders.
“Consultation gives stakeholders an opportunity to understand the proposed changes, test the assumptions that underpin the model, and provide evidence-based feedback on practical implementation issues,” Mr Hansen said.
The Australian Government announced in May 2026 that it had agreed a new sustainable funding policy for the APVMA from the 2027–28 financial year.
The changes are designed to better align fees with the cost of delivering regulatory services and address cross-subsidisation in the existing model.
The previous cost recovery policy allowed some product holders to benefit from lower registration costs in Australia without supplying those products domestically. The majority of these registration costs are paid for by a levy on those products sold here in Australia.
“The proposed CRIS is about making sure our cost recovery arrangements are sustainable and fair, so the APVMA can play its critical role in ensuring agvet chemicals are safe and effective, while supporting Australian farmers to access the tools they need to stay productive,” Mr Hansen said.
Consultation on the proposed CRIS is open from 13 July to 4 September 2026. Stakeholders can view the consultation documents and make a submission through the APVMA website.
The updated cost recovery arrangements commence 1 July 2027, subject to final approval and required regulatory amendments.
Media contact: media@apvma.gov.au