Page 1033 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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(8) Which ACT Government directorates, agencies or services use pesticides, which pesticides do they use and in what (a) quantity, (b) frequency and (c) location.
(9) Do any ACT Government service, agency or contractor use neonicotinoids or similar chemicals, linked to reductions of bee populations.
(10) What training is provided by the ACT Government to ACT Government employees on the use of and recording practices for pesticides.
(11) What training is required of commercial providers in the ACT in relation to the use of and recording practices for pesticides.
(12) Does the ACT Government have any plans to implement a plant procurement policy which would require suppliers to align with pesticides regulation in the ACT.
Mr Ramsay: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Agricultural and veterinary (Agvet) chemicals must be used in accordance with Part 6 of the Environment Protection Regulation 2005 which specifies they must be used in accordance with their approved label or an off label permit. These conditions are set by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), the national regulator. It is illegal to use a chemical which is not registered by the APVMA.
The commercial use of Agvet chemicals is a Class A activity under the Environment Protection Act 1997 (the EP Act) and a person must not undertake this activity unless they hold an environmental authorisation issued by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) (see answer to question 10).
(2) There are currently no legislative requirements for record keeping in the ACT.
(3) ACT Government’s approach to pesticide regulation aligns with national best practice. Commercial operators licensed by the EPA are required to hold nationally accredited competencies delivered by registered training organisations and it is a requirement for all users, both commercial and non-commercial, to use Agvet chemicals in accordance with their conditions of registration which are set by the national regulator the APVMA.
(4) The regulation of Agvet chemicals in the ACT is similar to that undertaken in other jurisdictions. Notwithstanding this the ACT, along with all jurisdictions, is participating in a Council of Australian Governments reform project to develop a single national framework to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulation of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines.
(5) There is no ACT Insecticide Guideline. Agvet chemical use is regulated under the EP Act and associated regulation. As noted in the answer to question 4 the ACT Government is participating in a national reform project looking to develop a single national framework. It is envisaged through this work that there will be changes to the ACT regulatory model.
(6) N/A
(7) N/A
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