Push to speed up agrichemical approvals in NZ

Dr Liz Shackleton, chief executive of the Animal and Plant Health NZ (APHANZ), formerly known as AGCARM, says the delays in approving new products means that NZ producers are at a disadvantage to overseas competitors who have access to these products. She says while reform of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Group (ACVM) and HSNO Acts is underway and a new parliamentary bills is in the process of being finalised to do this, her members want action now.

The Ministry of Regulation did a review in February into the ACVM and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Shackleton says they found across the regulatory system there were inefficiencies and delays, a lack of strategic direction, uncertainty and disproportionate regulation. She says they also found there were concerns around resourcing, engagement, industry funding and a breakdown in trust and confidence in the system.

As a result of this, cabinet became involved and set out a roadmap designed to speed up the process so that farmers and growers can have access to the same new chemicals that their counterparts overseas do.

“For example, wine growers in Canada and Australia have been using a new insecticide to deal with mealy bugs. The company that produces this product lodged an application in NZ to get this approved in 2019 and it is ‘still in the system’. Another example is that potato growers in Pukekohe want to use a new chemical to deal with thrips and blight which is more environmentally friendly and has less impacts than present products, but that has still not been approved,” she says.

Shackleton says farmers are also in trouble because a product that is used to control grass grub is still locked up in the system and notes that the cost to NZ of grass grub alone can be as high as $800 million annually.

Read More:

• EPA chief executive to step down
• Call to fast-track animal medicines approval
• NZVA backs efforts to accelerate veterinary medicine approval in New Zealand

In May, the EPA's CEO claimed on the organisation's website that the EPA supported the changes and that applications were a top priority. But Shackleton says all the talk hasn't translated into action.

"What farmers and growers are telling us is that they are seeing no sign of any change and are deeply frustrated. Some Pukekohe potato growers are considering their future because they have run out of tools to deal with the problems they are facing," she says.

Blueprint for Change

Liz Shackleton says they don't want short cuts, because the law already exists to do what is required.

She says they have launched a simple blueprint which asks for a special taskforce to clear up the backlog of applications for the tools that farmers and growers need most - such as new ingredients and new label uses. She says they want greater use of international harmonisation and trusted data to streamline approvals and meaningful engagement to co-design workable risk-based decisions.

According to Shackleton, perfectly good solutions are already available and in use overseas. But she says the companies that produce them are becoming frustrated with the red tape in NZ. She notes that one company has already pulled out of dealing with NZ and there is a risk others may do the same.

"Every delay adds stress, cost and risk to our farmers and growers who are trying to do the right thing - grow healthy food, protect the environment and meet rising standards. We need to move from promises to progress."