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ACVM STANDARD FOR OWN USE OF AGRICULTURAL COMPOUNDS

3 REQUIREMENTS FOR OWN USE OF AGRICULTURAL COMPOUNDS 

3.1 Use limitations: what must not occur when using own compounds

  Prohibited substances

The user must not use any substance that is prohibited for use as an agricultural compound as specified by the ACVM Group. (See list of prohibited substances on the website. A hard copy of the prohibited compounds list may not be complete. If in doubt whether or not a particular substance may be used under the exemption in Schedule 1, a user should contact the ACVM Group.) The presence of a prohibited compound in an agricultural compound excludes the compound from the exemption from registration.

Other compounds can be used under this standard if there is a specific code of practice approved by the ACVM Group. Such a code should provide more operational detail than is provided in this more general standard. Codes of practice should be lodged with the ACVM Group for approval. The ACVM Standard for Codes of Practice can be used as guidance in developing a code for approval so that it addresses the user obligations listed below.

New organisms, including genetically modified organisms

The user must not use any new organism, including a genetically modified organism, unless approved by ERMA New Zealand under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

Experimentation

The user must not experiment on animals with a compound without the appropriate Animal Ethics Committee approval under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Sale of produce

The user must not offer for sale for human consumption any animals or plants that would breach the domestic food residue standards, and must take due care to advise anyone who may harvest animals or plants for human consumption that they have been treated or exposed.

Sale of agricultural compound

The user must not offer for sale to any third party any compound prepared by the user for use on that user’s own animals or plants. Sale as an agricultural compound negates the exemption from registration in Schedule 1.

3.2 User obligations: what must occur when using own compounds

  Compound fitness

The user must ensure that the compound is fit for its intended agricultural compound purpose.  From an ACVM Group perspective, compounds are fit for purpose only if they do not do any of the following:

• produce residues in primary produce that fail to comply with applicable food residue standards set in or under any enactment;

• cause unnecessary pain or distress in animals as a result of toxic reactions or physical damage;

• result in malnutrition causing pain or distress in the animal;

• result in undesirable physiological side effects; or

• contain micro-organisms at pathogenic levels or any other plant or animal pest that is likely to promote disease or pest transmission.

Compound use

Whenever using a compound according to this standard, the user is obliged to:

• store, prepare, administer or apply, and dispose of the compound in a manner that does not expose themselves or other persons, stock or crops, or the environment in general to unnecessary hazards;

• protect the welfare of any animals that may come into contact with the compound and mitigate any pain or distress caused by the exposure;

• advise any third parties likely to be affected of any hazards to themselves or their property;

• where necessary, advise the appropriate officials of the use, and the time and place of administration or application;

• keep adequate records to show that due consideration was made of the matters above, and due care was taken to comply with them;

• use it only on their animals or plants while on their own land or body of water on their own property.

Use of compounds through delegated authority

Where a compound is used by subordinate persons or employees on behalf of a person/organisation, the responsible person/organisation must provide written instructions that direct:

• how the compound is to be stored, prepared, administered or applied, and disposed of;

• how the welfare of any animals that may come into contact with the compound is to be protected and how pain or distress is to be mitigated;

• how third parties are to be contacted or advised of the use and warned of any hazards;

• how officials are to be advised of the use, and the time and place of administration or application.

The responsible person/organisation must ensure that the subordinate persons or employees are appropriately trained and provided with whatever is needed to carry out the instructions safely.

Animal involvement

The user must take due care to avoid unnecessary pain and distress in animals intentionally exposed to a compound and animals that may inadvertently be exposed, and seek veterinary advice if animals continue to suffer pain or distress after treatment or exposure.