Regulation of veterinary chemicals in Australia

For many years the regulation of veterinary chemicals has been a State responsibility. The clearance process involves the evaluation of a wide range of aspects for each candidate product including quality, efficacy and safety. In recent years the clearance process has been governed by the Commonwealth Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1988. The Act established the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council responsible for the evaluation and the granting or refusal of clearance. Clearance of veterinary chemicals by the Commonwealth is required as a precursor to registration. It is an offence for anyone to sell an unregistered product unless authorised by relevant legislation. Control is therefore exercised principally at the point of sale. These functions are now the responsibility of the National Registration Authority, which was established on 15 June 1993. Changes are now underway for the Commonwealth to take over the registration responsibilities from the States. A legislative package that will enable the Commonwealth to assume registration responsibilities will be enacted later this year or early 1995.