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AgVetLink: Number 66, February 2008

Application Numbers and Approvals Timeframes

Application numbers for the 2007 calendar year were the highest yet recorded with a total of 2,160 applications relating to registered products. This included 317 new registrations (152 new plant compounds and 165 new veterinary medicines). Adding new registrations to the increased numbers of information waivers, provisional and research approvals, made 2007 a very busy year. Fortunately, the introduction of the 'Smart Track' system has saved time in processing applications for minor variations. When the system works properly, applications are being processed well within, or at least near, the intended timeframes. Unfortunately, the high work load coupled with staff turnover has resulted in internal errors that have caused delays for some applications.

End-of-year applications

Every year we receive complaints in January and February when applicants fail to receive approvals as quickly as they expect. (This also applies where public notification is required.) The timeframes set down for approvals, which are relatively tight for major applications, are working days and do not include the period from late December to mid-January. This effectively means that an extra month should be expected when submitting applications at the end of the calendar year. We do process applications in early January, but many staff take leave and it is also difficult where internal peer review and consultation are required.

The end of January saw Warren Tully, our senior advisor (chemistry), moving on to a change in lifestyle (less wind and more warmth). We are in the process of appointing a replacement chemistry advisor in addition to another veterinary advisor to bring the technical team up to full strength.