Pre-application assistance

Pre-application assistance is an optional, fee-based service provided to applicants to receive advice before they submit an application for registration.

On 1 July 2014, the APVMA introduced a process to allow applicants to seek assistance before submitting an application to register, vary or seek a permit for a pesticide or veterinary medicine product. A set timeframe of one month for the provision of technical advice to applicants was prescribed.

These arrangements were in place from 1 July 2014 – 31 October 2015. Between 1 July 2015 and 31 October 2015, we received 61 requests for pre-application assistance and finalised 72, as shown in the below table 'Workload and performance for pre-application assistance: July 2015 – October 2015'.

Workload and performance for pre-application assistance: July 2015 – October 2015

Following feedback from industry and other stakeholders, the APVMA undertook an independent review of the implementation and operation of pre-application assistance arrangements. The review highlighted that the pre-application assistance did not meet the standards required by our clients, and that we did not have adequate systems and processes in place to support it effectively.?

The APVMA subsequently re-designed the pre-application assistance arrangements to better meet the needs of the clients. The new arrangements commenced in November 2015 and now include timeframes and fees that directly relate to the complexity and effort required. There are three tiers:

• tier 1 – completed in one month
• tier 2 – completed in two months
• tier 3 – completed in three months.

Workload and performance for pre-application assistance November 2015 – June 2016

?