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Amendments to the ACVM Regulations 2001

The following are amendments to the ACVM Regulations 2001 that the ACVM Group is considering. (NOTE: This article should be read while referring to the Regulations in order to understand the proposals.)

Definitions

Fertiliser additive
The definition of a fertiliser additive should be amended by adding the term ‘biological compound’ to make it clear that fertiliser additives can be or contain organisms or substances derived from organisms.

A fertiliser additive would be:

1. a non-nutrient substance or biological compound added to a fertiliser, or applied to land by itself, that
   (i) improves the supply and uptake of nutrients; or
   (ii) increases the biological activity of soil; or
   (iii) modifies the physical characteristics of a fertiliser to make it more fit for its purpose; but
2. does not include substances that are plant growth regulators that modify the physiological functions of plants.

Biological wastes
Raw or composted biological wastes that are sold as fertilisers or fertiliser additives are exempt from registration.

Some confusion has arisen as to what constitutes raw or composted biological wastes. The ACVM Group considers that the term must be clarified. Therefore it is proposed to include the following definition:

Biological wastes are any substances derived from animals or humans, including meat, milk, eggs, by-products from the slaughter of livestock or the processing of dairy products, secretions, excretions (including sewage), but does not include green wastes (plant origin) that are not contaminated by or mixed with substances derived from animals or humans.

While there is a regulatory interest because biological wastes can pose ACVM risks, the ACVM Group considers that the risks can be managed via regulatory control under the Resource Management Act 1991 in the first instance.

Additional exemptions

The following are additional groups of agricultural compounds that could be exempted from registration. Those proposed for Schedule 1 would be subject to compliance to a code of practice if such a code were to be approved. Those proposed for Schedule 2 would be subject to the general labelling requirements in Regulation 6 and the conditions prescribed in column 2 of that schedule. However, they would not be subject to the general reporting requirements in Regulation 7.

The agricultural compound groups in Schedule 3 would be subject to annual reporting as required in Regulation 7.

• Vertebrate and invertebrate attactants and repellants that are not applied directly to animals or plants;
• Invertebrate mating disruptors that are not applied directly to animals or plants.

This group includes chemical and pheromone products used in traps either for pest control or for monitoring pest populations. Because they are not applied directly to the animals or plants, they do not pose significant ACVM risks.

• Substances, mixtures of substances  or trade name product veterinary medicines that are not registered under the ACVM Act 1997, used as veterinary medicines in New Zealand, under the conditions that:
• the preparation may be imported only under a permit issued by MAF;
• the preparations must not be used on animals except under the direct care, authority, or prescription of a veterinarian; and
• the veterinarian must act in accordance with any applicable code of practice in force under section 28 of the ACVM Act.

This is a similar exemption to the existing exemption for human medicines used by veterinarians. Because the exemption only applies if a veterinarian is managing the risks, there appears to be no reason to require the products to be registered under these circumstances.

• Substances, mixtures of substances or trade name product veterinary medicines that are not registered under the ACVM Act 1997, used as veterinary medicines on laboratory animals, under the conditions that:
  • the preparation may be imported only under a permit issued by MAF;
  • the preparations must not be used on animals except laboratory animals under the direct care, authority of specified person in a research or training organisation accredited by MAF; and
  • persons in the organisation must act in accordance with any applicable code of practice in force under section 28 of the ACVM Act.

This exemption is similar to the one above and depends on the approval of a code of practice that ensures the risks would be managed. A code is being developed by the Royal Society, but until that code or a similar is approved this exemption would not apply.

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