CHEMISTRY IS NOT REMOVED WITHOUT A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE BEING AVAILABLE. SUITABLE MEANING THE SAME OR SIMILAR EFFICACY, COST AND AVAILABILITY.  

Queensland’s horticulture industry requires access to safe, effective, and affordable agricultural chemicals and technologies, in order to continue to deliver high quality, safe, and nutritious produce to domestic and global markets.  

Increasing chemical de-registration without viable alternatives threatens the industry’s productivity, sustainability, and global competitiveness. QFVG advocates for science driven and evidence-based approaches to the registration and de-registration of chemicals. Further to this, continued investment into research and development to ensure alternative products are available at a suitable cost, efficacy, and availability is of critical importance.  

Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers advocates for: 

• Science driven, evidence-based approach to chemical access registration.  

• Further investment in the APVMA to underpin their operations in recognition of the significant public benefit arising from their work.  

• Commit to a review of policy concerning the length of patent protection in Australia, to better balance the incentive for the registration of new chemistry with the need to ensure these same chemistries are affordable and accessible for industry.   

• Increase the funding to the annual allocation of funds to support minor use registrations and reform processes for both determining minor use commodities and the administration of minor use funds.  

• Renewed emphasis and support for specialised R&D and efficacy programs across horticulture products.   

• Improved consultation and communication with industry prior to any changes in chemical regulations to avoid loss of markets and other unexpected negative biosecurity outcomes.