Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Brown, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 February 2019:

The independence of regulatory decisions made by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), with particular reference to:

  (a) the responsiveness and effectiveness of the APVMA's process for reviewing and reassessing the safety of agricultural chemicals in Australia, including glyphosate, and how this compares with equivalent international regulators;

  (b) the funding arrangements of the APVMA, comparisons with equivalent agricultural chemical regulators internationally and any impact these arrangements have on independent evidence-based decision making;

  (c) the roles and responsibilities of relevant departments and agencies of Commonwealth, state and territory governments in relation to the regulation of pesticides and veterinary chemicals;

  (d) the need to ensure Australia's farmers have timely access to safe, environmentally sustainable and productivity enhancing products;

  (e) the impact of the APVMA's relocation on its capability to undertake chemical reviews in a timely manner; and

  (f) any other related matters.