The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has updated its data retention period to strengthen the security and privacy protections of our Online Services Portal. These changes ensure we retain personal information only for as long as necessary and continue to meet our obligations under the Australian Privacy Principles.
Why we are making this change
This update is necessary to maintain the quality and accuracy of information held in APVMA systems.
Draft applications often contain sensitive information that is personal and commercial in nature. Dormant data increases the likelihood of exposure if an online system is compromised, and retaining sensitive information that is ‘beyond use’* by an organisation does not align with Australian Privacy Principles.
*Regular system updates to the Online Services Portal change the electronic format of application forms, which can make older, unsubmitted drafts incompatible with the current system. When this happens, the draft can no longer be used and is considered ‘beyond use’ by the APVMA.
What is changing
From 3 October 2026, a new 90-day retention period will apply to draft applications in the Online Services Portal.
This new retention period will require all draft applications be submitted within 90 days. Draft applications that remain unsubmitted for 90 days will be automatically deleted.
Transition period: what you need to do
Applicants must log in to the Online Services Portal and review their draft applications.
Applicants have until 2 October 2026 to submit their draft applications.
Any draft application over 90 days old that remains unsubmitted from 3 October 2026 will be permanently deleted from the Online Services Portal.
FAQs
What is a draft application?
A draft application is any application form that has been created and is not yet submitted. Our 90-day retention period counts from the day an application is created in the Online Services Portal.
How do I check my draft applications?
Log in to the Online Services Portal and navigate to the ‘Applications’ section. Any draft applications you have saved will appear in your list of applications. You can open each draft to review, update, submit or delete it.
What happens if I do nothing?
Any draft application over 90 days old that remains unsubmitted after 2 October 2026 will be permanently deleted from the Online Services Portal.
Can deleted drafts be recovered?
No. Once deleted, drafts cannot be restored. You will need to start a new application and will have 90 days to submit it. You cannot transfer the deleted application’s decision ID to a new application.
You can download or copy the information from your draft application and store it securely on your own system before deletion.
Will I get a refund?
If you have paid for an application that is still in draft, you may request a refund for the original application fee. Unsubmitted applications over 90 days old will be deleted from the Online Service Portal, even if payment has occurred.
To prevent this from affecting your application, you should only process your application payment when you are ready to submit, remaining mindful of this 90-day retention period.
Refunds follow the APVMA’s standard refund process. If you have a paid application that is affected, please email your request with the decision ID of your affected application to enquiries@apvma.gov.au.