Page 3180 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
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AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY CHEMICALS -
NATIONAL REGISTRATION SCHEME
Debate resumed from 15 September 1993, on motion by Ms Follett:
That the Legislative Assembly:
(1) Notes that:
(a) At the October 1990 Special Premiers' Conference, Heads of Government identified the need for there to be a national registration scheme for agricultural and veterinary chemicals to replace the existing eight State and Territory registration authorities. Such a scheme would encapsulate all evaluation and registration matters up to the point of retail sale, with the States and Territories retaining responsibility for post-retail control-of-use matters. The States and Territories would also undertake surveillance and compliance activities on behalf of the Commonwealth on an agency basis;
(b) The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 established a National Registration Authority to oversee the Commonwealth's role in the proposed National Registration Scheme;
(c) To give effect to the arrangements envisaged under the Scheme, it was also agreed that the Commonwealth would pass additional legislation which would define the powers and duties of the Authority in relation to the States and Territories. Adoption of such legislation by all jurisdictions would then formally establish the National Scheme;
(d) The Commonwealth Government has sought the consent of the ACT Legislative Assembly to allow it to use its section 122 powers under the Constitution to pass the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1993 which would make law for the ACT in respect of agricultural and veterinary chemicals registration and evaluation matters. The adoption of this legislation by other jurisdictions would then enact the uniform national scheme; and
(e) Under such an arrangement, the ACT's interests would be protected by way of an intergovernmental agreement, which would ensure that, apart from forgoing its ability to legislate in this field, the ACT would be in the same position as the States and the Northern Territory under the arrangements.
(2) Consents to the Commonwealth using its section 122 powers under the Constitution to legislate in and on behalf of the ACT in respect of the proposed National Registration Scheme for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
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