(Photo: Pauline Eccles)
June 30, 2017
After media criticism earlier this year, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has backed down and will now publish information about voluntary recalls of agvet chemicals.
APVMA Chief Executive Officer Dr Chris Parker said on Thursday there was no legislative requirement for APVMA to publish information about a voluntary recall by manufacturers.
“We wouldn’t ordinarily provide information that isn’t already in the public domain, however we are changing the current approach,” he said.
“The APVMA will (now) publish information about compulsory and voluntary recalls on the website apvma.gov.au ”
APVMA has always encouraged chemical companies to make voluntary recalls, which meant no information appeared on the APVMA website.
However, in March this year, the APVMA admitted it had been notified in December 2016 by Nufarm Australia and Syngenta Australia that several herbicide products had been found to contain chemicals not listed in the registered formulation.
It has been reported that some of these chemical contaminants could damage some crops.
A number of voluntary recalls were initiated by the companies involved but according to media reports, many farmers continued to use the contaminated products which included Ramrod and Gesagard.
APVMA “reviewed the plans put forward by the companies to notify relevant affected parties in the supply chain” but there was no public notification of the voluntary recall by the agency.
“Recent media interest in the recalls has questioned the APVMA’s approach to the issue, suggesting that more could have been done to notify end users of the voluntary recall,” a March statement from the agency said.
“When it comes to the recall of a faulty agvet chemical product we work with each party to ensure risks are appropriately managed and that action is taken promptly, but it’s important to acknowledge that companies and manufacturers are the ones responsible for product stewardship – not the APVMA.
“Companies also have responsibilities more broadly under Australian consumer law, which includes notifying the ACCC about product recalls, which may then be published on the national recalls website at the discretion of the ACCC.
“The role of the APVMA is to regulate agricultural and veterinary medicines up to and including the point of retail sale. Beyond this point, State and Territory governments are responsible, including controlling the use of these chemicals.”
But the APVMA said on Thursday it was now “strengthening its stance on recall notification” with a “shift in policy”.
