Last week, AUSVEG’s newly appointed National Agrichemical Manager David Daniels attended a national workshop convened by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in Armidale. The event brought together major agvet companies, CropLife, Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), a number of grain and legume industry bodies, and the horticulture industry was represented by Hort Innovation, AUSVEG and Citrus Australia.

One of the criteria the APVMA assesses when registering a new pesticide is efficacy — essentially, how well a product works against its intended target pest, disease, or weed. For a product to be registered, it must demonstrate reliable performance under Australian growing conditions. As chemistries become more targeted and environmentally selective, demonstrating efficacy using traditional data approaches can become more complex, highlighting the need for more adaptive regulatory thinking.

The workshop was held in response to extensive commentary from product registrants over the past two years regarding a perceived shift in the APVMA’s regulatory posture — particularly around efficacy requirements. Concerns were raised that the current approach has made it increasingly difficult to meet efficacy criteria, especially as the industry transitions towards novel chemistries that don’t always align with older evaluation frameworks.

In recognition of AUSVEG’s role in driving responsible crop protection solutions, the APVMA sought input from the organisation on how to better align regulatory processes with the evolving needs of industry. The workshop aimed to progress more practical, consistent assessments and guidance that ensure Australian growers maintain access to reliable and effective crop protection tools.

AUSVEG welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important national conversation and remains committed to working with the APVMA to shape science-based, outcome-driven regulations that foster innovation, improve access to crop protection tools, and support a more sustainable future for the Australian vegetable industry.