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AgVetLink: Number 53, December 2005

Changes within the Approvals and ACVM Group

Over the years, the ACVM Group’s primary focus has been on registration of veterinary medicines (previously animal remedies) and plant compounds (previously pesticides). Other activities involved the setting of standards and policies under the ACVM Act. However, since the recent restructure of NZFSA to rationalise and harmonise approaches for the business groups, the scope and functions of the Approvals and ACVM Group have changed.

Significant change

One of the most significant changes has brought together those elements of the various Acts that NZFSA administers (covering both the domestic and export industries) that are associated with approvals and standards setting into one functional grouping. The work of the Approvals and ACVM Group now covers setting standards and policy under the ACVM Act and a wide range of approvals, including registration of agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines, approvals of risk management programmes (RMPs), dairy product safety plans (PSPs), multiple release permits for imported foods, and chemical approvals.

The team is composed of staff from the existing ACVM Group, staff from the Animal Products Group, a staff member from the Imported Foods area and a new employee in the Food, Sale and Service area.

Key accountabilities and functions – Standards Setting Team

• Setting standards for ACVMs and MRLs

• Setting technical standards for regulatory and non-regulatory programmes and approval processes

• Developing monitoring and surveillance programmes

• •Monitoring the international environment

• Providing input into science and risk assessment priorities

• Liaising with other standard setters, e.g. ERMA, Biosecurity NZ

• Providing technical input into approvals process

• Providing input to policy, science, international standards, and New Zealand standards

• Furthering alignment with Australia

• Contributing to consultation and communication

• Adjudicating, interpreting, clarifiying standards

• Developing operational policy, e.g. antibiotic resistance

• Rationalising standards and systems.

Key accountabilities and functions – Approvals Team

• Providing technical assessment for approvals process

• Developing systems for approvals

• Dveloping decision making process for approvals under the ACVM, Animal Products, Wine and Food Acts

• Measuring performance of approvals process

• Acting as contact point for Compliance and Investigation Group

• Liaising with other regulatory approval groups, e.g. ERMA, Minsitry of Health, public health units and local authorities

• Maintaining associated registers and lists

• Rationalising approval processes

• Providing technical input into standard setting and systems audit

• Removing approvals.

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