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AgVetLink, October 2004

Vertebrate toxic agents: registration requirements

In the ACVM Group’s categorisation of agricultural compounds the registration requirements, standards and forms for vertebrate toxic agents (VTAs) are currently included under the veterinary medicine category. Both industry and the ACVM Group have signalled that it would be more appropriate to have VTAs in their own category because they are not plant compounds and are significantly different from most other veterinary medicines.

Therefore, the ACVM Group has been working on a set of registration documents for VTAs. These draft documents are now at a stage where we are seeking comment from interested parties. While the format and content for the draft documents are similar to those for plant compounds and veterinary medicines, there are some content differences. The documents can be found on the ACVM website (http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm/publications/consultation/index.htm).

It should be noted that the residue and animal welfare standards have yet to be drafted. The residue standard is likely to cover two aspects:

• setting a withholding period (WHP) to allow stock back into a treated area (via aerial or broadcast application); and

• determining residues in target and non-target food producing animals where there is the potential for the animal to receive a sub-lethal dose.

The animal welfare standard will cover humaneness aspects of the VTA to the target animal.

With regard to registration numbers for registered VTAs, a new qualifier will be required to differentiate them from plant compounds and veterinary medicines. The ACVM Group is also considering whether existing VTAs should also have their P or A qualifier changed to the new qualifier. We would welcome comment on this proposal.

The consultation on the draft documents will end on 22 October 2004 as it is hoped to have the finalised standards, forms etc. in place by 1 November 2004 when VTAs are transferred across into the HSNO Act.

Please send comments to:

Warren Hughes
Senior Assessor
ACVM Group, NZFSA
PO Box 2835
WELLINGTON
or email: warren.hughes@nzfsa.govt.nz