Proposed reforms to speed up approvals for critical tools used by farmers, growers and veterinarians are a good first step, but targeted changes to the Bills and robust regulations are needed to ensure they deliver for the primary sector, says Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ).
APHANZ, which represents the manufacturers of animal health and crop protection products, says the Government’s ACVM and HSNO Amendment Bills should be strengthened, and the regulations that follow will be critical to ensuring a faster, clearer and easier approvals system.
“The Bills are a genuine opportunity to modernise New Zealand’s regulatory system and improve access to the tools farmers, growers and veterinarians rely on,” says APHANZ Board Chair Gavin Kerr.
“However, the detail will matter. APHANZ has proposed changes to both Bills and identified issues that must be addressed in the regulations, which are not yet available.”
APHANZ is seeking practical changes to strengthen the Bills and give industry confidence in the regulations that follow.
“Our members and the wider primary sector need a genuine seat at the table as regulations are developed.
“They also need enforceable timeframes for applicants, faster and more proportionate assessment pathways, and a HSNO levy framework with a clear purpose and no retrospective cost recovery.
“Ultimately, New Zealand’s primary sector needs faster, more reliable access to critical tools to look after animals and protect crops from pests and diseases.
“That means more predictable approvals, better use of trusted overseas decisions, less duplication and practical rules shaped with industry input.
“This is the first meaningful opportunity in decades to modernise the regulatory system that supports innovation in the primary sector. What we lock in now will shape New Zealand’s ability to access world-leading innovation.
“The Government has taken an important step, and we are committed to helping take these Bills further.
Consultation on the Bills closed on 15 June. APHANZ reviewed both Bills across New Zealand’s two-regulator framework, with input from members, primary sector organisations, and business and technical experts.
“Our submission is focused on practical solutions to help ensure the system delivers the outcomes industry urgently needs,” says Gavin.
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