APVMA - Forecast chemical review timeframes extended

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has revised the expected publication dates for the proposed regulatory decisions on fipronil, neonicotinoids, and anticoagulant rodenticides.

The expected publication of the proposed decisions on fipronil agricultural chemical products has been delayed until April 2026 and fipronil veterinary chemical products until March 2026.

Proposed decisions on the individual chemistries within the neonicotinoid review (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) will be published separately commencing in late 2025.

The expected publication date for the proposed decision on anticoagulant rodenticides has been delayed until July 2025.

The APVMA is committed to undertaking rigorous evidence-based reviews, and must consider all relevant information. As a result, the timeframes for these reviews have been extended to allow us to appropriately consider information that has been provided to us or identified in the public domain.

The APVMA continues to progress all ongoing chemical reconsiderations, including prioritising the finalisation of chemical reconsiderations subject to the Ministerial Direction given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, in July 2023. The ongoing reconsiderations subject to the ministerial direction are paraquat, diquat, fenitrothion, neomycin and fipronil.

If a chemical poses a serious or imminent risk to human health, the environment, or trade, the APVMA will take action to mitigate those risks as quickly as possible. None of the assessments completed to date indicate the need for an urgent regulatory response.