Providing access to safe and effective crop protection solutions

Hort Innovation supports growers’ access to safe and effective crop protection solutions through levy projects, grant funded trials and additional activities.

Key resources for industry

• Visit the APVMA site to search and download all current minor use permits, including details on their conditions of use
• Download your industry’s current Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) document
• Access the latest Ag Chemical Update
• Sign up to Growing Innovation (Hort Innovation’s monthly newsletter) to receive notifications of minor use permits on a monthly basis

Minor use permits

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) issues minor use permits so growers can legally access, and safely use, crop protection products for ‘minor uses’ that are not covered in a product’s registered label.

Hort Innovation facilitates the submission of renewals and applications for minor use permits on behalf of the horticulture sector.

Visit the APVMA site here to search and download all current minor use permits, including details on their conditions of use.

Recently issued minor use permits

The below minor use permits were recently issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). This information is circulated as part of Hort Innovation's Growing Innovation e-newsletter, which members and interested horticulture participants receive monthly. Sign up here.

Data generation

The creation of pesticide residue, efficacy and crop safety data is needed to support minor use permit and label registration applications made to the APVMA. Hort Innovation’s data generation work is supported by assistance grants, which we seek on behalf of industry each year through the Australian Government’s Access to Industry Priority Uses of AgVet Chemicals program.

Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARPs)

To help horticulture industries identify gaps in existing control options for pests, weeds and diseases, Hort Innovation funds Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) research. This research is used to identify industry priorities in the pursuit of chemical registrations or minor use permits.

Download your industry’s current Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) document here.

Ag Chemical and Regulatory Risk Assessment Updates

Hort Innovation distributes Ag Chemical and Regulatory Risk Assessment Updates for the Australian horticulture industry, as part of the project Regulatory support and response co-ordination (pesticides) (MT24008) and formerly, Regulatory support and coordination (pesticides) (MT20007) and Regulatory support and coordination (pesticides) (MT17019). The Ag Chemical updates provide information on any developments in regulatory oversight of relevant chemicals and are an opportunity for industry to consider and develop responses to issues arising from actions proposed that may impact on grower ability to access and use needed pesticides. The Regulatory Risk Assessment Updates highlight the regulatory threats to agrichemicals currently approved for the management of pests and diseases in horticultural crops and supports initiatives addressing pest management gaps.

Ag Chemical and Regulatory Risk Assessment Updates can be accessed from their dedicated page here. 

Related information and resources

Non-performance reporting form

Do you use agricultural chemicals available under a minor use permit for horticulture?

Have you had a non-performance or adverse experience with products for uses covered by a minor use permit?

An adverse experience is an unintended or unexpected effect on plants, plant products, animals, human beings or the environment, including injury, sensitivity reactions or lack of efficacy associated with the use of an agricultural chemical product(s) when used according to label (or permit) directions.

If you believe you have had a non-performance or an adverse experience following use under a minor use permit, please submit a report online at AERP AgVet Online Report System (apvma.gov.au).

This mechanism will assist the APVMA to receive and consider horticultural industry feedback on non-performance or adverse experiences relating to the use of agricultural chemicals under minor use permits. This information may also assist in making informed decisions on the suitability of pesticides for the future needs of your horticultural industry.

Further details about the APVMA’s Adverse Experience Reporting Program for Agricultural Chemicals may be found on their website here.

Permits, maximum residue limits and the food standards code

Users are advised that while a product can be applied legally under an APVMA minor use permit, there can be a significant delay until the maximum residue limit (MRL) gazetted by the APVMA is adopted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Until this occurs, the MRL may not be recognised and a zero tolerance may be imposed for residues of the pesticide resulting from its use according to the APVMA permit.

Please be aware that in the absence of an MRL in the Food Standards Code, the use of the pesticide according to the permit may result in the suspension of the produce in the marketplace. Please check the FSANZ website or the Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation website to confirm if there are MRLs established by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.