Regulatory Environment
Regulation of agrichemicals in New Zealand is a complicated and unique landscape with two separate regulators to navigate. The Ministry for Primary Industries administers the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) administers the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.
Historically it has taken roughly 2 years to gain registration and approvals for new products under the ACVM and HSNO Acts. Today however we are seeing a backlog of new product applications with the EPA and estimates of new products taking 4+ years to gain approval.
Delays in approvals of new chemistry is a major concern for New Zealand as it denies our growers the opportunity to access and use new and innovative chemistry. Many of the new chemistry options include biologicals and inhibitors or offer benefits such as improved residue profiles, safer hazard profiles, alternative options for resistance management strategies or a better fit with integrated pest management practices. The delays result in a reliance on older and often more hazardous products and puts New Zealand growers at a disadvantage.
Nufarm is an active member of Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ), a peak industry association which advocates for companies that manufacture, distribute and sell products in the plant protection and animal health industry. As an industry we are seeking to work with the EPA to propose solutions to improve timeframes for approvals. The solutions include streamlining the approval process, the introduction of improved risk models used by other regulators to enable faster processing and the prioritisation of applications for products which have already be approved by trusted international regulators.
Nufarm has a number of exciting new products in the pipeline. We hope that through the work we are doing with APHANZ and the EPA we will be able to share these new products in a newsletter in the not so distant future.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand
- Strive for effective and sustainable animal health and crop protection technology through industry leadership and advocacy.
- Achieve a balanced and science-based regulatory environment that gives members freedom to operate and grow in New Zealand.
- Enable farmers and growers to supply high quality food and fibre into domestic and global markets.
- Create an environment that encourages competition through innovation.
- Promote stewardship and responsible use of products.
- Support health and wellbeing of pets, livestock and people.
