Agvet Chemicals & Forestry

The agricultural and veterinary (agvet) Chemicals and Forestry Branch works with the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), various state and territory government bodies, and agvet chemical and end-user representative organisations on: • supporting an independent expert panel undertaking a first principles review of the entire agvet regulatory framework. The Forestry Branch provides advice to the government (including the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) on matters associated with forestry in Australia. Guided by the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement, the branch has the aim of fostering a sustainable, productive, profitable and internationally competitive Australian forest and forest products industry. To deliver on forestry policy matters, the Forestry Branch works with state and territory governments and the forestry industry. The Forestry Branch is also responsible for representing Australia in international efforts to foster the sustainable management of forests globally. The Forestry Branch is engaged in a number of high-level initiatives and forums that deal with issues related to illegal logging, plantation expansion, sustainable forest management and market access. The Forestry Branch focuses on: • implementing the National Forest Industries Plan and its goal of a billion new plantation trees • monitoring, reviewing and implementing Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs), which aim to balance the economic, social and environmental needs and values of native forests • bilateral engagement with regional trading partners to support market access for forest products and promote an open forestry dialogue • providing strategic policy advice to the government in relation to the implementation of Australia’s illegal logging regulatory framework and National Forest Industries Plan • developing and implementing policies that ensure forests are managed sustainably in Australia • supporting the establishment and implementation of National Institute for Forest Products Innovation centres and Regional Forestry Hubs • delivery of two pieces of primary legislation: Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002 and Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012. • assessing and issuing licenses for export of unprocessed wood and woodchips. • providing strategic policy advice to the government on how agvet chemicals should be regulated • supporting the APVMA in revising its cost recovery implementation statement • streamlining and amending agvet chemicals legislation and regulations and establishing national chemicals policy, including harmonising national control of use legislation improving agvet chemicals users’ access to chemicals for minor uses, through administering the Improved Access to Industry Priority Uses of Agvet Chemicals grants program • contributing to Australia’s obligations under international treaties • representing and participating in international forums relating to pesticides and veterinary chemicals.