vegetables

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MINOR USE
AWARENESS
PROGRAM
Minor Use Awareness Program: Latest news
GET INVOLVED IN MINOR USE! WHILE MINOR USE IS A VITAL ASPECT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN VEGETABLE INDUSTRY, SOME GROWERS MAY BE CONFUSED
ABOUT THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING A PERMIT. AUSVEG
MINOR USE AND AGRONOMY COORDINATOR SCOTT KWASNY REPORTS.
The Australian agricultural
chemical market represents
approximately two per cent of
global sales. So when chemical
companies look to register a
product in Australia, it has
traditionally been too costly and
time-consuming to produce
the data required for minor
commodities. Due to the cost
of trials, there is often a lower
return on investment available to
cover minor crops.
This has resulted in many
older chemical control options
only having a limited list of
approved commodities for onlabel
treatments.
National Permit System
The Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority
(APVMA) has developed a
National Permit System, which
adds flexibility to chemical
access.
A minor use permit legalises
an off-label use for a specific
purpose. These permits still
have to comply with APVMA
requirements for safety and
efficacy.
Behind the permit
Minor use has played an integral
role in developing around two
thirds of Australia’s current
Maximum Residue Limits, which
shows how important minor
use is and continues to be for
agricultural industries.
Most minor use permit
applications are initially
assessed based on the data at
hand. However, a number of
permits do require additional
data to complete the application,
including existing international
data and/or residue analysis
data produced within Australia
under good laboratory practice.
Requesting a permit
To request a minor use permit,
there must be a gap identified
where there are limited alternate
modes-of-action options through
currently approved chemistry
available to treat a pest issue.
Some key considerations
when requesting a permit are:
• Emergence of resistance in
the pest.
• Additional mode-of-action
to allow for rotation to avoid
emergence of resistance.
• Integrated Crop Protection
compatibility.
• Unsuitability of current
chemistry for trade or market
access.
Minor Use Database
Minor use plays an integral
role in the Australian vegetable
industry, and it is imperative
that growers and stakeholders
register their details on the
Minor Use Database.
All minor use and emergency
use permit costs for the
vegetable industry are funded
through the National Vegetable
Levy. This means that it is
imperative for vegetable growers
to have a voice in this area,
which can be achieved through
the database.
It’s important to remember
that the Minor Use Database
isn’t just about minor use.
Information can also be
used to assist in providing
improved chemical access for
vegetable growers. The more
farms involved, the better the
information and the more action
that can be taken.
For these reasons and more,
it is vital to have as many
growers representing as many
different vegetable commodities
as possible on the database.
Joining the Minor Use Database
is your opportunity to play an
integral role in improving access
to agrichemicals in Australia.
i
To request any of the minor
use forms, please contact
AUSVEG Minor Use and
Agronomy Coordinator Scott
Kwasny on (03) 9882 0277,
or email minoruse@ausveg.
com.au.
For more information about
minor use, visit
www.ausveg.com.au/
minoruse.
Project Number: VG13096