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AgVetLink December 2004

Holding pattern on VTA product registrations

The ACVM Group has been working on a standard for vertebrate toxic agents (VTAs) and the conditions of registration that are to be imposed on each VTA trade name product. Decisions have been delayed because the ACVM Group wanted to ensure that its conditions of registration were compatible with and complementary to the controls imposed under the transfer of VTA substances into the main framework of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. These substances, except sodium fluoroacetate (1080), were transferred as of 1 November 2004 (ref: New Zealand Gazette notice, issue 141, 29 October 2004) and the controls are now clear.

It was hoped that updating the registrations of trade name products containing these substances could progress. However, the decision by ERMA not to transfer 1080 has had an effect on the ACVM registration of all VTA products.

Existing controls continue

To avoid prompting dual regulatory systems in the short term, the NZ Gazette notice included transitional controls specifying that the controls in place before 31 October 2004 will continue to apply until 30 April 2005. This means that the existing controls will continue and there is no obligation to comply with the new HSNO controls until at least May 2005. ERMA has indicated that this date may be extended.

Interim registrations

Consequently, the ACVM Group will have to recognise interim registrations and delay imposing any changed conditions until then (or later if there is any further delay in ERMA’s timetable to process a decision about the fate of 1080 as a vertebrate toxic agent substance) unless other circumstances require earlier action.

In the meantime, products can still be used as they have been and there is no definitive advice on the medium- to long-term regulatory control of these products. The ACVM Group will complete its consultation and make it clear what conditions it will impose on each trade name product. However, any new conditions will not be imposed until ERMA has made a decision about 1080.

1080 products

Because 1080 was not transferred, trade name products containing that substance are still regulated under the transitional provisions of the HSNO Act (i.e. the old Pesticides Act registrations) and the ACVM Act. They can still be used as they have been until a decision about continued use of 1080 is made by ERMA. There is no need to recognise interim registrations as with the other VTA products. Once ERMA makes a decision on 1080, the ACVM Group will update the registrations of 1080 trade name products.